Lions sign HBCU star to fill position of need after draft

Lions sign HBCU star to fill position of need after draft originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

After all the picks had been made in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Detroit Lions kept working hard.

One of the quick undrafted free agent moves they made was to sign linebacker Erick Hunter..

Hunter is from Morgan State, an HBCU, and was one of the top prospects available from that level of football.

Hunter measures at 6-foot-2 and 220 pounds.

In the 2025 season, he finished with 101 tackles, including 14 tackles for loss and 4.0 sacks.

"Hunter’s productive 2025 season featured 102 tackles, including 14 for loss and four sacks," writes NFL.com in his draft profile. "He’s fast when he opens up and runs but can be a little leggy with his short-area movements. Hunter’s instincts and response quickness are a little below average and he’s not suited for third-down coverage duties at the next level. His athletic testing was outstanding and he can compete for a role on special teams, but he’ll need to show he can handle backup linebacker duties to have a chance of sticking on a roster."

Some mock drafts had Hunter in the sixth or seventh round, but in the end, he wasn't picked and got to choose his destination.

The Lions want to bounce back and return to the playoffs this season. If Hunter is going to take part, he'll have to make quite the impression this summer.

More NFL Draft news:

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• Why Diego Pavia didn't get drafted