The Lions have had at least one undrafted free agent make their initial 53-man roster each of the last 15 years, which includes the first four seasons of the Brad Holmes-Dan Campbell era.
They do a good job giving UDFAs a fair shake, and even UDFAs who didn’t make the initial roster have managed to settle into a role in Detroit. Some of the standouts over the years include Brock Wright, Jerry Jacobs, Hogan Hatten and Trevor Nowaske — three of whom played significant snaps last year. Several others have been able to lock down jobs on the practice squad as they develop into NFL players.
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So, then, what’s in store for the 2025 class? Who are the prospects most likely to keep the streak alive? Or does it come to an end this year, considering how strong this roster is?
Let’s talk about it.
Jackson Meeks, WR, Syracuse
Oh, you thought the Lions’ Georgia love ended with their draft picks? Meeks, a former Georgia receiver, transferred ahead of the 2024 season in search of more opportunity. He found it at Syracuse, reunited with former Georgia assistant Fran Brown. It led to what was by far his most productive season, eclipsing the 1,000-yard mark on 71 receptions with seven touchdowns. Meeks isn’t the most impressive athlete (4.64 40 at 6-foot-2, 213 pounds) but he ranked second among FBS receivers in contested catches with 21. The Lions reportedly gave him $200,000 guaranteed, which speaks to how he’s viewed. It doesn’t hurt that he’s Za’Darius Smith’s nephew.
Caden Prieskorn, TE, Ole Miss
The Lions did their homework on Day 3 tight ends, but ultimately didn’t draft one. They did, however, bring in Prieskorn as a UDFA. The former Ole Miss TE was given a seventh-round grade by The Athletic’s Dane Brugler. He’s a big-bodied tight end at 6-foot-6, 246 pounds and comes equipped with strong hands and an ability to box out defenders. He does lack athleticism, though, and is an older prospect at 25 (will turn 26 in September), which explains why he went undrafted. As a former walk-on with two young children (his wife has a large following on social media), Prieskorn is mature and has a great story. A Lake Orion, Mich. native, Prieskorn was reportedly offered $60,000 to sign with the Lions as a UDFA. An easy guy to root for.
Mason Miller, OL, North Dakota State
The Lions have some connections to Miller — new TEs coach Tyler Roehl was Miller’s offensive coordinator at North Dakota State — so it makes sense why he’d sign with Detroit after going undrafted. He’s got great size (6-foot-7) and good length (33-and-a-half-inch arms), but he’s not an overly impressive athlete. He was a multi-year starter at NDSU and was reportedly given $20,000 guaranteed to sign with the Lions. The Lions don’t have much tackle depth and it’s going to be hard for any linemen to make the roster, let alone a UDFA, but perhaps he could find a home on the practice squad.
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Kye Robichaux, RB, Boston College
A power back who rushed for 744 yards and 10 touchdowns at Boston College last year, Robichaux doesn’t shy away from contact. He can get chased down from behind and doesn’t have true breakaway speed, but if the Lions are looking for a bruiser who can be called upon in short-yardage situations, Robichaux is a good bet.
Anthony Tyus, RB, Ohio
A Portage, Mich. native who began his career at Northwestern, Tyus transferred to Ohio for his final year of college and recorded 1,215 rushing yards and nine touchdowns. He’s another bigger back (4.59 40) at 6-foot-1, 220 pounds, but he can move when he picks up a head of steam and was reliable in pass pro. The Lions are always looking for steady practice-squad running backs.
Jakobie Keeney-James, WR, UMass
What Meeks lacks in speed and athleticism, Keeney-James possesses. He recorded an RAS of 9.58 with an elite explosion grade (40-inch vertical) and great speed/agility grades (4.37 40). He’s on the smaller end at 5-foot-11, but you always have to keep an eye on those speed threats. He caught 50 passes for 839 yards and six touchdowns this past season, averaging 16.8 yards per reception. Slot receiver who transferred from Eastern Washington.
Big Play JKJ
📺 SEC Network@JakobieKJames 𝙭 #Flagship 🚩 pic.twitter.com/XK6L97PVOL
— UMass Football (@UMassFootball) November 23, 2024
Zach Horton, TE/FB, Indiana
Horton is an old-school prospect and it’s no surprise to see the Lions in on him as a UDFA. He played tight end and fullback for James Madison, before following coach Curt Cignetti to Indiana. He has teach tape as a blocker and shows a physicality in the run game that likely appealed to the Lions. Detroit hasn’t had a true fullback on the roster since Jason Cabinda, but if they’re looking to return to that under John Morton, Horton fits that bill. Keep an eye on him.
Ian Kennelly, S, Grand Valley State
Kennelly, a Grand Valley product, attended the Lions’ local pro day and must’ve impressed enough to stay on their radar. He’s a good prospect to take a flier on. He’s got a relative athletic score of 9.06 and good size at 6-foot-2, 209 pounds. The Lions are always looking for smart safeties who can contribute on special teams. Seventh-round pick Dan Jackson has the upper hand on that role, but perhaps Kennelly can impress enough to earn a practice squad spot.
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Leif Fautanu, C, Arizona State
The No. 28 ranked center in the class, per Brugler, Fautanu is on the smaller end at 6-foot-1, 298 pounds and his athleticism isn’t much better. The Lions added 2024 UDFA Kingsley Eguakun last year and liked him enough to keep him around on the practice squad, so that’s his main competition. His relative athletic score of 3.40 445 out of 673 centers, dating back to 1987.
Keith Cooper Jr., Edge, Houston
Who said the Lions only added one edge rusher? They also signed Cooper, a UDFA out of Houston. While Cooper leaves much to be desired athletically (he recorded a relative athletic score of 3.30 and tested poorly in the speed, agility and explosion components), the Tulane transfer earned All-Big 12 second-team honors and has solid size at 6-foot-3, 280 pounds.
Gavin Holmes, CB, Texas
The Lions have roughly a million corners on the roster at the moment, but they’re taking a flier on Holmes — a reserve corner who transferred from Wake Forest and made 14 career starts in college. Holmes is a good, not great, athlete (7.82 RAS; 4.45 40 and a 39-inch vertical) and has a long road ahead of him as it pertains to making the roster/practice squad. Would have to show value on special teams first and foremost.
(Top photo of Jackson Meeks: Abe Arredondo / Imagn Images)
This news was originally published on this post .
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