Lions Scoop Up Five UDFAs After Draft Weekend
The Detroit Lions wrapped up their 2026 draft class but they’re not done shopping. Time for the annual UDFA feeding frenzy, where teams scramble to sign the players who didn’t hear their names called over three days.
Detroit should be busy here. They’ve got 76 players on the roster right now, with the NFL cap at 90. That means 14 open spots for hungry undrafted guys looking to prove they belong in Honolulu Blue.
The Lions have already started making moves, reportedly signing five UDFAs. But here’s the thing about UDFA season – nothing is official until it’s official. Players flip commitments. Reports get confused with minicamp invites. It’s chaos wrapped in hope.
The Early Haul
So far, Detroit has reportedly brought in quarterback Luke Altmyer from Illinois. Because you can never have too many arms, right?
They’ve also grabbed tight end Miles Kitselman from Tennessee. Dan Campbell loves his tight ends, so this tracks.
On the defensive side, the Lions picked up two edge rushers: Eric O’Neill from Rutgers and Anthony Lucas from USC. Pass rush depth is never a bad thing, especially when it comes cheap.
Rounding out the group is cornerback De’Shawn Rucker from USF. Secondary help from the UDFA pool? Sure, why not.
The Reality Check
Here’s where it gets interesting, though. The Lions aren’t holding a rookie minicamp this year. So if these guys don’t sign actual contracts, it’s unclear how they’ll even get a shot to show what they’ve got in Allen Park.
And yes, I know what you’re thinking. Five signings with 14 spots available means there’s more coming. Names will keep trickling in through the weekend as Detroit fills out their roster.
Remember, most of these guys are longshots to make the final roster. But every now and then, an undrafted free agent finds a way to stick around. Hell, stranger things have happened with this franchise.
Think any of these UDFAs have a real shot at making the roster, or are we just watching the annual summer camp filler parade? Drop your take below.
I’m actually really digging the approach Holmes and Campbell are taking here. Five UDFAs already and we still got room for more – that’s the kind of aggressive roster building I wanna see. These guys have something to prove and that hunger is exactly what we need in the locker room.
Look I get it, UDFAs are cheap and sometimes one sticks, but we gotta be careful not to just throw bodies at problems. The no rookie minicamp thing is weird too – how are these guys supposed to prove themselves? I trust Brad but let’s see who actually makes the cut before we get too excited.
This is so different from how it used to be run, man. Back in the day we’d just grab random guys and hope something stuck. Campbell and Holmes actually seem to know what they’re looking for with these signings – there’s a plan behind it instead of just throwing stuff at the wall. That’s what makes this era feel different already.
The edge rusher depth is huge for me honestly. O’Neill and Lucas could be solid depth pieces if they pan out, and worst case they push our guys in camp which makes everyone better. This is smart roster management right here.