The USC Insider’s Take: Why Anthony Lucas Could Be Brad Holmes’ Best UDFA Steal Yet

The USC Insider’s Take on Anthony Lucas

Brad Holmes went dumpster diving in the undrafted free agent pool and came up with Anthony Lucas, a USC edge rusher who has the kind of measurables that make scouts salivate and the kind of college production that makes them wonder what the hell happened. So naturally, I had to dig deeper.

I reached out to Ryan Kartje, who covers USC for the Los Angeles Times, to get the real story on Lucas. What I found was exactly what you’d expect from a Lions UDFA pickup: tantalizing potential wrapped in a bow of “what if.”

The Eternal Edge Rusher Question

When I asked Kartje about the scouting report that Lucas shows flashes but never puts it all together, his response was brutally honest. “When you see Lucas up close, you don’t need to be a scouting expert to understand how much potential he has. He somehow looks bigger than his measurables suggest.”

But here’s the kicker. “However, he has never quite put it all together on the field. Some of that is due to ill-timed injuries. But he always seemed on the verge of a breakout and never quite got there.”

Sound familiar? This is the Detroit Lions’ entire existence summed up in one player evaluation.

Run Stopper First, Pass Rusher Maybe

The good news is Lucas actually has one NFL-ready skill right now. Kartje notes that “his most developed skills as a defensive lineman are against the run, and that’s where he’ll be most useful right away.”

As for pass rushing, well, this is where it gets interesting in that Lions way we all know too well. Lucas had 23 pressures and hit the quarterback 11 times but managed only three sacks. That’s either a guy who can’t finish or a guy who got unlucky. In Detroit, we usually assume the worst and hope for the best.

“With good coaching, I think someone can get the best out of Lucas’ pass rush skills,” Kartje said. “He’s never going to be a prolific sack artist, though, by any means.”

The Care Factor

Here’s where things get a little concerning. The Athletic’s Dane Brugler mentioned Lucas needs to keep his “care factor” high, which is scout-speak for “this guy might take plays off.

Kartje’s take? “I could see how someone would get that impression. Sometimes, he may have come off as a quieter and more aloof personality. But by the end of his time at USC, Lucas seemed to be pretty vocal on USC’s defense.”

So either he matured or he learned to fake it better. Either way, Dan Campbell will figure out real quick which version shows up to Allen Park.

Why He Went Undrafted

Here’s the million-dollar question: if Lucas had draftable talent, why didn’t anyone draft him? Kartje’s assessment cuts right to the heart of it.

“It’s hard to say, but I’m sure the injury concerns and the lack of high-level production don’t help. I still think Lucas deserved to be drafted, if only as a bet on potential.”

The question, as Kartje puts it, “is whether he can be more than just a good college run defender. If he can, he’ll be more than worth the investment.”

And honestly, that’s exactly the kind of bet Holmes should be making with UDFA signings. Low risk, high reward, with the kind of coaching staff that might actually unlock whatever Lucas has been hiding.

Think Lucas becomes the latest Lions UDFA gem or just another guy who looks good in shorts? Let me know in the comments below.