Are the Detroit Lions still Super Bowl contenders?

DETROIT,MICHIGAN-December21: Head coach Dan Campbell of the Detroit Lions calls down the field ahead of an NFL football game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Detroit Lions in Detroit, Michigan USA, on Sunday, December 21, 2025. (Photo by Amy Lemus/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | NurPhoto via Getty Images It would be hard to say the Detroit Lions have gotten better in free agency so far. Thus far, they’ve lost: QB Kyle Allen RB David Montgomery WR Kalif Raymond LT Taylor Decker C/G Graham Glasgow DT Roy Lopez EDGE Al-Quadin Muhammad EDGE Tyrus Wheat LB Alex Anzalone LB Grant Stuard CB Amik Robertson S Daniel Thomas And they’ve added: QB Teddy Bridgewater RB Isiah Pacheco TE Tyler Conklin WR Greg Dortch OT Larry Borom C Cade Mays iOL Juice Scruggs EDGE DJ Wonnum EDGE Payton Turner LB Damone Clark CB Roger McCreary DB Christian Izien It’s hard to do the math, but any way you slice it, it’s hard to see the gain/loss as a net positive.

Given that the Lions finished last year just 9-8, tied for last in the division, it’s understandable for some to view the 2026 Detroit Lions as a team that cannot contend for the Super Bowl. But is that really true? Are there other ways the Lions can improve upon last season beyond personnel changes?

Can an improvement in coaching, strength of schedule, injury luck, and youth development be enough to propel the Lions back into Super Bowl relevancy in 2026? And could they be just a few more additions—including in the draft—away from pushing those gains/losses into a positive? Additionally, how much worse did they actually get?

Are some of the “downgrades” being overblown? Are fans forgetting about just how strong the core of this team is? Or are there just too many serious questions for this team to overcome?