Projecting the Lions depth chart: Defensive tackle

As the offseason winds down, we're going to project each position on the Detroit Lions depth chart and also take a look at some training camp battles. Next up is the defensive tackle position.

Starters: Haloti Ngata, Tyrunn Walker

The Lions have an entirely new two-deep at defensive tackle after Ndamukong Suh, Nick Fairley, C.J. Mosley and Andre Fluellen all signed with other teams this offseason. Leading the way for this new group of defensive tackles is Haloti Ngata. He's the top starter, and he's really the only defensive tackle locked into a specific spot on the depth chart.

The other starting spot is still to be determined, but I'm expecting Tyrunn Walker to ultimately take control of that job. The Lions signed him with the intention of starting him alongside Ngata, and even though he wasn't necessarily a starter in the spring, I think he will develop into one over the summer.

Backups: Caraun Reid, Gabe Wright | Other players: Jermelle Cudjo, Roy Philon

If Walker is indeed a starter, that will leave Caraun Reid and rookie Gabe Wright as the main backups at defensive tackle. The Lions also have Jermelle Cudjo and Roy Philon, but neither player is expected to make the team.

Featured camp battle: Tyrunn Walker vs. Caraun Reid vs. Gabe Wright for the second starting DT job

Other camp battles to watch: The runners-up from the featured camp battle for the No. 3 DT job

Reid got an awful lot of first-team reps this spring, so it's certainly possible that he will be the starter next to Ngata when the regular season opens. That will be an interesting camp battle to watch between him and Walker, and I suppose Wright could even be thrown into the mix. After that, the two players left over will then battle for the No. 3 spot in the defensive tackle rotation.

Previously: Quarterback, running back, fullback, wide receiver, tight end, offensive tackle, offensive guard/center, defensive end