Who's the next Melifonwu for the Lions? 4 early breakout candidates for the 2024 season

The Lions proved that they really like Gilmore in 2023. They first signed him to a three year deal as an undrafted rookie and then stashed him away on their 53-man roster instead of their practice squad so they could make sure that he wouldn't get poached. 

He didn't play a lot though. Just one game all year and that was against the Ravens. He only played two snaps. Still, he stayed on the roster. Even when the Lions had to bring guys back from injured reserve, he still stayed on the roster. There's something there.

I think we see what's there in 2024 when the Lions begin to move forward with their development of Gilmore and he begins to play. Gilmore had a tremendous preseason in 2023, if he can have that kind of play in 2024, he'll have a big break out. 

I have been talking about the Lions need for a big body receiver who can make contested catches for a while now. Maybe that guy is on the roster already in last years seventh-round draft pick. Green is 6-foot-2-inches tall and showed at North Carolina that he can make those contested catches.

The hard part for him is to find a way to get more time on a team that has a lot of good receivers. If there were some sort of situation in which Josh Reynolds doesn't return, that could open the door for Green to have a shot and getting more time. Even if Reynolds does come back, Green should still be trying to get more time. 

If he does, I think we'll see a big enough breakout from him that he could be a big part of the Lions future receiving corps.  

The CFL sack leader and Most Outstanding Defensive Player of the Year award winner is now in Detroit. Guys coming up from the CFL don't always work out, but Betts is very talented and he should make the Lions 53-man roster in 2024.

Once he's there, I think there's a chance he could have a breakout NFL season. He's obviously not going to net 18 sacks in the NFL in his first year there, but he could have a season that's similar to John Cominsky's first year with the Lions. Betts can be a guy that can be a big rotational part of this Lions defense in 2024 and maybe beyond. 

I'll be honest, I think every sports writer out there has a prospect that they were really high on and have a hard time moving off of. Mitchell is that guy for me. I'm not crazy, there's a good player here.

The Lions could be in the market for a tight end this offseason. A guy that can be a solid number two option with Sam LaPorta. I think that guy is on the roster already and it's James Mitchell. He just hasn't really had a the shot to show that yet. 

He spent his rookie year overcoming an ACL injury he suffered in college and in 2023 he spent most of his time playing special teams. If he can get a shot at more snaps on offense and more targets, he could show what he has. Either that or I just need to move on.