Detroit lions Undrafted Rookie That Made It To The Lions 53 Man Roster.
The Detroit Lions make it clear — undrafted rookies have every opportunity to make the final 53-man roster.
In each of Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell’s years at the helm, at least one UDFA has made the roster out of training camp.
As was the case in 2023, several others stayed on the team’s practice squad and wound up making their debuts either as elevations or active roster signings later in the year.
With a fresh crop in for the 2024 season, plenty of interesting prospect stories are expected. Here are five undrafted free agents who could make the Lions’ roster when the team breaks camp for the start of the regular season.
Williams was handed a hefty amount of guaranteed money to sign with the Lions, which usually indicates that the player is held in high regard by the front office. A converted quarterback, Williams has an intriguing skill-set that could fit the Lions’ needs.
He’s not the biggest wide receiver, as he measured 5-foot-9 at the NFL combine in February. However, he showcased explosiveness with a 38-inch vertical, and plays much faster on tape than his 4.63 40-yard dash indicates.
The Lions have one of the best slot receivers in the league in Amon-Ra St. Brown, so offense wouldn’t be an immediate need.
However, he has the athleticism to help out on coverage units and potentially in the return game. He was also a 1,000-yard receiver last year, so there’s no discounting his potential impact down the line, either.
Offensive line depth was an area the Lions targeted heavily in the draft. However, one spot they did not use a pick on was the center position. With Frank Ragnow dealing with multiple injuries last year, insurance is never a bad thing.
As it stands, Graham Glasgow is the team’s backup center. Though Glasgow has proven to be more than capable of owning the role, he is also one of the team’s starting guards, and would help the team by staying in his natural spot.
This may be why the Lions brought in three UDFA centers, including Eguakun. The Florida product is a strong run-blocker, and is the most polished of the three options.