Lions Sign 9 Undrafted Free Agents
In addition to getting their entire seven-player draft class under contract Tuesday, the Lions announced nine UDFA signings. Here is the Lions’ list of undrafted newcomers:
- Luke Altmyer, QB (Illinois)
- Aamaris Brown, DB (UNLV)
- Erick Hunter, LB (Morgan State)
- Aidan Keanaaina, DL (California)
- Miles Kitselman, TE (Tennessee)
- Anthony Lucas, EDGE (USC)
- Eric O’Neill, EDGE (Rutgers)
- Melvin Priestly, OL (Illinois)
- De’Shawn Rucker, CB (USF)
The headliner may be Altmyer, who spent three years as Illinois’ starter after backing up Matt Corral and then Jaxson Dart at Mississippi from 2021-22. The 6-foot-1, 210-pounder is entering the pros after back-to-back 22-touchdown pass seasons in which he led the Fighting Illini to a 19-7 record, including wins over South Carolina in the 2024 Citrus Bowl and Tennessee in the 2025 Music City Bowl.
Altmyer set personal bests in attempts (365), completion percentage (67.4) and yards (3,007) last season, all while throwing just five interceptions. However, given that Altmyer does not possess great size or arm strength, the entire NFL chose to pass on him in the draft. The 23-year-old may have a chance to earn a spot in Detroit, though, as the team does not have any other developmental options behind starter Jared Goff and veteran backup Teddy Bridgewater.
Lucas played one season at Texas A&M before transferring to USC in 2023. Although Lucas recorded his only three college sacks last year, Dane Brugler of The Athletic ranked the 6-5, 256-pounder as the 185th-best prospect available before the draft. Brugler describes the 6-5, 256-pounder as a “battering ram” pass rusher and edge setter who has a chance to carve out a role in the NFL.
The Lions awarded a sizable guarantee to Keanaaina, who will earn $267,500, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2. The former Notre Dame defender tore his ACL in 2022, but he showed no ill effects upon transferring to Cal in 2024. Across 26 games (all starts) with the Golden Bears, the 6-3, 320-pounder totaled 101 tackles and 2.5 sacks.
Patriots More Likely To Draft QB Or Sign Priority UDFA After Joshua Dobbs Release
The Patriots recently re-signed quarterback Tommy DeVito and released fellow signal-caller Joshua Dobbs. DeVito therefore appears to be in the driver’s seat for New England’s QB2 post behind MVP runner-up Drake Maye, but he will not go unchallenged.
ESPN’s Mike Reiss says the Dobbs release makes it more likely that the Patriots will draft a passer or sign one as a priority UDFA. While the team was always going to add another quarterback or two to its depth chart and was not going to carry only Maye and DeVito, it is notable that a team that just won the AFC may be content to have largely unproven options behind its starter instead of a more established talent (like old friend Jimmy Garoppolo, who is still a free agent).
If New England does choose to add a quarterback via the draft or the UDFA pool, ESPN’s Jordan Reid (via Reiss) offers several possibilities. Clemson’s Cade Klubnik, whose performance in a losing effort in the first round of the 2024 College Football Playoff led Reid to consider him a Day 1 talent, was less impressive in his final season on campus. That said, he is a three-year starter with experience under center and in the shotgun who is lauded for his character. Reid projects him as a fourth- or fifth-round option in next month’s draft.
Luke Altmyer, meanwhile, should be available in the fifth or sixth round. Reid praised the Illinois product’s Senior Bowl performance along with his arm strength, accuracy, mobility, and decisiveness. The Patriots may feel that offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and quarterbacks coach Ashton Grant can help Klubnik, Altmyer, or a player with a similar draft projection to reach their ceiling sooner rather than later and thus create – along with DeVito – a comfortable enough quarterback situation behind Maye.
Maye, whose breakout second professional campaign ended with a disappointing performance in Super Bowl LX, will of course be counted upon to lead the Patriots on another deep postseason run. If he is forced to miss any length of time, New England’s chances of such a run will suffer a major blow regardless of whether the club adds a player on the free agent or trade markets or takes a chance on a rookie.