The Detroit Lions have been making waves in the undrafted free agent (UDFA) market in recent years, and their continued activity in this area signals a strategic approach to roster construction and team-building. While the NFL draft gets much of the attention, many teams, including the Lions, are also focusing on the UDFA pool to add young talent and valuable depth to their rosters. In this article, we will explore the Lions’ UDFA activity, why it is significant, and how it fits into the team’s overall philosophy and direction.
The UDFA market is an often-overlooked part of roster construction in the NFL. However, the teams that successfully navigate this area can unearth hidden gems who contribute to the team’s success in various ways. UDFAs are players who go undrafted during the NFL Draft but still possess the skills, drive, and potential to play at the highest level. They sign with teams as free agents after the draft and compete for roster spots during training camp.
While UDFAs are often seen as longshots to make an NFL roster, there are numerous success stories of undrafted players becoming stars in the league. Examples include players like Kurt Warner, Antonio Undrafted free agents often come with a chip on their shoulder, eager to prove they belong in the NFL, which can make them some of the most motivated and hard-working players on the field.
For a team like the Detroit Lions, with a long history of rebuilding and seeking to find the right pieces to turn the franchise around, the UDFA market provides an opportunity to add talent without the financial commitment of drafting players. With the salary cap always a consideration, UDFAs can help fill out the roster while giving the team flexibility to make moves elsewhere.
The Detroit Lions have been active in the UDFA market under the leadership of general manager Brad Holmes and head coach Dan Campbell. Their approach to roster building has focused on competition, adding depth, and taking calculated risks on players with potential. This philosophy is evident in their UDFA signings, which often include a mix of raw athleticism, positional needs, and high-ceiling prospects who may have slipped through the cracks in the draft.
Holmes, who came to the Lions from the Los Angeles Rams, brings with him a keen eye for identifying talent in undervalued players. His experience with the Rams, a team that found success by developing young players from all corners of the roster, has shaped the Lions’ approach to team building. The Lions’ success in recent drafts, combined with their ability to find talent in the UDFA pool, is a testament to this strategy.
Since taking over as GM in 2021, Holmes has made it clear that the Lions’ roster will be built on competition, and UDFA players play a vital role in creating that competition. Dan Campbell’s coaching staff emphasizes developing players and bringing out the best in them, no matter how they arrive at the team. Whether a player is drafted or signed as an undrafted free agent, the Lions want to see talent grow and thrive in their system.
This team-building philosophy is evident in the quality and quantity of UDFA players the Lions have brought in over the past few seasons. They have made a concerted effort to find players at positions of need or areas that could provide significant depth for the team. Furthermore, they have shown an ability to identify players with high upside, even if they are raw or unpolished coming out of college.
To understand the importance of the UDFA market to the Detroit Lions, it’s worth looking at some of the key players they have signed in recent years. Many of these players have contributed to the team in various ways, from providing depth on special teams to emerging as unexpected contributors on offense or defense.
Although Jarrad Davis was not technically an undrafted free agent but was selected by the Lions in the first round of the 2017 draft, the selection was a result of the team using their first-round pick for a linebacker while prioritizing building up that defensive side of the roster. He developed into someone who added multiple players to complete roster spots.
