Undrafted quarterback Luke Altmyer is the only Detroit Lions rookie free agent with a realistic path to the 53, and he profiles as a practice-squad lock while the staff decides on carrying two or three quarterbacks. Roster spots are scarce, so most UDFAs are competing for developmental roles on the practice squad.
Is Luke Altmyer a lock for the Detroit Lions roster?
Luke Altmyer, quarterback, Detroit Lions, locks down the practice squad and stays in the QB pipeline, while the 53 hinges on whether Detroit carries a QB3. As Jeff Risdon noted on the Detroit Lions Podcast Daily DLP, there are only three quarterbacks in camp and Altmyer ‘wins from the pocket,’ mirroring the style of quarterback Jared Goff stylistically, and has enough arm and toughness to run the offense. Altmyer absorbed some hellacious hits at Illinois, so taking fewer hits is a growth point. The staff will decide between keeping two on the 53 with Altmyer as the emergency elevation, or rostering three. Either way, he stays in Detroit.
What must defensive end Anthony Lucas show to make the 53?
Anthony Lucas must add a Plan B move and finish plays he already wins to crack the 53. Lucas’ all-or-nothing first move on college tape and the need to raise his floor will augment his chances. The finishing mandate is explicit: he posted three sacks in four years of college football, and that production must jump to justify a roster spot in a deep edge room. Technique, sequencing rushes, and converting pressures into sacks decide his fate. Practice squad is the baseline, with upward mobility if he stacks finishes in preseason.
Which UDFAs look like immediate practice-squad value?
Several fit clear developmental lanes. Eric O’Neil, edge rusher, Detroit Lions, is a compact power rusher with outsized production, logging 35 sacks and 110 QB pressures across four-plus college seasons at LIU, James Madison, and Rutgers. He sets a sturdy edge for his size and profiles as a situational rush piece to cultivate. DB Amaris Brown brings ball skills and a my-ball mentality after six years of college, flashing takeaway instincts in camp. He must prove he can play special teams consistently to earn that slot or reserve corner spot. Eric Hunter, linebacker, Detroit Lions, was deployed like a do-everything attacker at Morgan State, blitzing and flowing downhill at 220 pounds. As Risdon detailed, he is an athletic, aggressive fit for a developmental hybrid linebacker role, tracking as a prime practice-squad stash for 2026 with an eye on contributing in 2027.
Who are the longest shots and what numbers define their uphill climb?
Miller Kitselman, tight end, Detroit Lions, must fix the hands and length concerns to stick. He recorded five drops on 27 targets and has arms under 32 inches despite being 6-foot-5, which shows up in blocking and catch radius. With tight ends Sam LaPorta, Brock Wright, and Tyler Conklin ahead, Kitselman needs a standout camp to seize the practice-squad TE spot. Martin Priestley, offensive lineman, Detroit Lions, is transitioning inside after over a thousand snaps at both left and right tackle at Illinois and sits just under 6-foot-3. The critical stat from Jeff Risdon: 54 assessed penalties in four years, including 24 in one season, a habit he must correct to advance. De’Shawn Rucker, cornerback, is an aggressive tackler whose size was misperceived by fans; he measured 5-foot-9 and a quarter at USF’s pro day. He needs to win on special teams and in slot reps to earn a developmental look. Depth at defensive tackle also matters, with defensive tackle J.R. Tufele, Detroit Lions, and defensive tackle Tylik Williams, Detroit Lions, shaping the interior competition.
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