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These 3 Undrafted Lions Are Making the Biggest Offseason Splash
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- These 3 Undrafted Lions Are Making the Biggest Offseason Splash
(Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK)
Typically, undrafted free agents fly under the radar and never make much of an impact. However, every year a few players emerge from the shadows, earn roster spots, and sometimes develop into key contributors. The Detroit Lions signed nine undrafted free agents this offseason—three on offense and six on defense—and early in the offseason, three names have separated themselves from the rest.
Luke Altmyer
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Altmyer has quickly made a strong impression during offseason workouts. The third-string quarterback has earned praise from both head coach Dan Campbell and offensive coordinator Drew Petzing, who described him as "unflappable" because of his calm demeanor, consistency, and willingness to learn. General manager Brad Holmes also praised Altmyer's natural throwing motion and underrated mobility, while Campbell noted that he's retained information well and continues to improve every day.
Altmyer spent two seasons at Ole Miss before transferring to Illinois for his final three years. Across five collegiate seasons, he completed 63.7% of his passes for 7,924 yards, 60 touchdowns, and 24 interceptions.
In 2025, Altmyer posted a 78.6 overall PFF grade while throwing for 2,798 yards, 21 touchdowns, and just five interceptions. He also added four rushing touchdowns, showcasing the mobility that intrigued Detroit throughout the pre-draft process.
Heading into training camp, Altmyer has a legitimate chance to make the 53-man roster. Many fans—including myself—believe the Lions may keep him on the active roster rather than risk losing him to another team if he were placed on the practice squad. It also helps that veteran backup Teddy Bridgewater has struggled during OTAs and mandatory minicamp, throwing multiple interceptions and looking noticeably less sharp than he did during his previous stint with Detroit in 2024.
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Anthony Lucas
Lucas joined the Lions as an undrafted free agent out of USC and has already turned heads this offseason. During OTAs, Lucas made headlines after getting into a heated altercation with offensive lineman Devin Cochran , showing the competitive edge and toughness Detroit values.
More importantly, Lucas has caught the attention of the coaching staff. When Dan Campbell was recently discussing the team's edge rushers, he mentioned Lucas before second-round pick Derrick Moore . While that alone doesn't guarantee anything, it certainly says something about the impression Lucas has made.
Defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard also had high praise for the young pass rusher.
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"I turned on his junior film at USC, and it was against LSU, and he was a game wrecker."
In that matchup, Lucas frequently lined up against LSU left tackle Will Campbell , the fourth overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Lucas recorded three quarterback pressures and helped hold Campbell to the second-lowest PFF grade of his college career (50.9).
Physically, Lucas checks every box with an NFL-ready frame, measuring 6-foot-5½ with an 85⅛-inch wingspan.
His production won't jump off the stat sheet, recording just three career sacks, but he also totaled eight tackles for loss while appearing in 39 collegiate games. His athletic traits and upside make him one of the more intriguing developmental players on Detroit's roster.
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Aamaris Brown
Aamaris Brown may have one of the best opportunities among Detroit's undrafted free agents.
Brown currently sits behind Roger McCreary and Ennis Rakestraw in the competition for the nickel cornerback role. McCreary was signed in free agency, while Rakestraw has battled injuries and inconsistency early in his career. Those circumstances could create additional opportunities for Brown throughout training camp.
Brown began his college career at Kansas State, where he appeared in 13 games over two seasons before transferring to USF. During three seasons with the Bulls, he played in 28 games and recorded four interceptions before an injury limited him to just five games during his senior year. Using a medical redshirt, Brown transferred to UNLV for his final season and put together an outstanding campaign.
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In 2025, Brown recorded 35 tackles, five tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, four interceptions, two pick-sixes, and seven pass breakups.
His 2025 PFF grades included:
* 69.8 overall grade
* 73.0 run defense grade
* 65.5 coverage grade
* 62.7 tackling grade
* 16.7% missed tackle rate
* 59.0% completion percentage allowed
* Four interceptions
* Six pass breakups
* Two defensive touchdowns
* Four penalties
Brown plays more like a physical nickel/safety hybrid than a traditional slot corner. While he doesn't possess elite long speed, he has a quick closing burst and consistently plays with aggression. He ran a 4.53-second 40-yard dash and posted a 34.5-inch vertical jump during the pre-draft process.
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Although he's slightly undersized at 5-foot-9 and 197 pounds, Brown's versatility, physicality, and ball production could make him one of the biggest undrafted surprises to watch when training camp begins.
