Looking closer at the Detroit Lions' nine undrafted free agents

Only one quarterback led Illinois to more victories than Luke Altmyer did during his career with the Fighting Illini.

Aamaris Brown, CB, UNLV

2025 stats: 52 tackles (five for loss), seven pass deflections, four interceptions, 3½ sacks

Breakdown: Mostly used as an outside cornerback before transferring to UNLV in January 2025, Brown (5-10, 190) switched to a slot-centric role last season and stuffed the stat sheet, totaling 10 run stops (second among defensive backs on the Rebels) and returning two of his four interceptions for touchdowns. Brown was rated by the 247Sports Composite as a three-star recruit in the Class of 2020. He initially went to Kansas State (2020-21) and later USF (2022-24) ahead of his sixth and final season in college. Brown's passer rating against in 2025 (64.0) ranked 79th among 457 qualified DBs (minimum 300 snaps in coverage). In Detroit, Brown offers inside-out flexibility. The Lions aren't lacking in contenders at nickelback, as Keith Abney II, Christian Izien, Roger McCreary and Ennis Rakestraw Jr. each figure to be in the mix.

Erick Hunter, LB, Morgan State

2025 stats: 102 tackles (14 for loss), four sacks, three forced fumbles, one interception

Breakdown: Hunter (6-4, 220) was among the top defenders at the FCS level last season, receiving All-American honors as a member of the third team from Phil Steele. He paced the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference in total tackles and was fourth in tackles for loss. He also made good use of his 76 snaps as a pass rusher, collecting seven hurries and two quarterback hits to go along with four sacks, according to Pro Football Focus. A full-time starter for three of his five seasons at Morgan State, Hunter's career passer rating against settled at 84.9, as he allowed 826 yards and one touchdown on 78 catches over 910 snaps in coverage. Hunter participated in athletic testing at the 2026 HBCU Showcase. His results in the 40-yard dash (4.48 seconds) and broad jump (10 feet, 10 inches) would've ranked third and second among linebackers at the combine, respectively. He has 559 reps of experience on special teams, including 227 combined on punt and kickoff coverage.

Aidan Keanaaina, DL, Cal

2025 stats: 56 tackles (2½ for loss), 1½ sacks, 11 pressures, 23 run stops

Breakdown: Like Brown, Keanaaina (6-3, 320) was a member of the Class of 2020 and spent six seasons in college. Keanaaina played sparingly over four years at Notre Dame (2020-23) but took on much more after he transferred to Cal in December 2023, starting all 26 of his appearances with the Golden Bears. He racked up 41 run stops and 29 pressures as a well-rounded force in the middle of Cal's defensive line. Keanaaina's missed-tackle rate in 2025 (6.1%) ranked eighth out of 89 qualified interior defenders (minimum 500 snaps on defense). Perhaps most impressive: Keanaaina committed only one penalty in college. Detroit's starters at defensive tackle — Alim McNeill and Tyleik Williams — are proficient at stopping the run, but the Lions could use some run-stuffing depth behind them. Keanaaina's size and experience make him a candidate.

Miles Kitselman, TE, Tennessee

2025 stats: 26 catches, 253 yards, two touchdowns

Breakdown: Kitselman (6-5⅛, 251) was a two-way lineman in high school who switched to tight end and made a one-season pitstop at Hutchinson Community College (2021) before he caught the attention of Alabama (2022-23), where he played for two seasons. Kitselman was a solid blocker in Tuscaloosa but never broke any higher than fourth at his position on the Crimson Tide's loaded depth chart. He eventually left for Tennessee (2024-25) and made 24 starts for the Vols, catching 48 passes for 554 yards and six touchdowns while continuing his plus work as a blocker. The majority of Kitselman's opportunities came either attached to Tennessee's offensive line or in the backfield, a role more similar to what Wright does in Detroit than Sam LaPorta. Kitselman's main competition, or at least who he'll have to first beat out to be in consideration for spot on the roster, is Zach Horton and Thomas Gordon.

USC defensive lineman Anthony Lucas was projected to be a Day 3 draft pick.

Anthony Lucas, edge, USC

2025 stats: 37 tackles (3½ for loss), three sacks, 23 pressures

Breakdown: A member of Texas A&M's historic recruiting class in 2022, Lucas (6-5½, 256) played only one season with the Aggies, opting to transfer to USC in January 2023. He was a rotational pass rusher with the Trojans for two seasons but was at his best and took on starting responsibilities in 2025, when he notched a win rate (12.4%) that ranked 80th out of 249 qualified edge defenders (minimum 250 snaps as a pass rusher). All of his career sacks (three) came in 2025. There's no question Lucas, who had 33½-inch arms at the combine, has NFL size, and his style as a powerful pass rusher fits what the Lions tend to value opposite Aidan Hutchinson. Lucas was the 24th edge defender on The Athletic's big board heading into the draft, earning a fifth-to-sixth-round grade by analyst Dane Brugler. Pro Football Focus had Lucas tabbed as the No. 109 overall prospect in the draft.

Eric O'Neill, edge, Rutgers

2025 stats: 37 tackles (9½ for loss), 2½ sacks, 41 pressures

Breakdown: O'Neill (6-2, 247) began his collegiate career at the FCS level with three seasons at Long Island before he transferred up to James Madison (2024) and Rutgers (2025). He was productive at each of his stops, amassing 31 sacks, 72½ tackles for loss and 180 pressures across 49 appearances. O'Neill averaged about 3½ pressures per game against competition in the Big Ten last season; he had five or more pressures against Illinois (six), Minnesota (five) and Ohio State (five). O'Neill's size (31-inch arms) isn't prototypical for an edge defender in the NFL, and his time in the 40-yard dash at his pro day (4.84 seconds) wasn't elite. But NFL.com's Lance Zierlein described O'Neill as a "high-motor edge defender with terrific play strength." Effort shouldn't be an issue.

Melvin Priestly, OL, Illinois

2025 stats: 13 starts, 14 pressures allowed

Breakdown: Despite most of his snaps at Grambling State (2022-23) and Illinois (2024-25) coming at tackle, Priestly (6-3, 317) projects more as an interior lineman at the next level, capable of jumping in at either guard or center. "I can play both sides, and I can play every position," Priestly said at his pro day in March. "That's a great sixth man. That's what the NFL is looking for." Priestly flashed his talent at Grambling State but struggled with flags, whistled for 36 penalties over his two seasons with the Tigers. He chopped those penalties in half at Illinois from 2024-25. Of the 14 pressures Priestly allowed last season, 12 were hurries and two were sacks. His pass blocking efficiency (98.1), a PFF stat "measuring pressure allowed on a per-snap basis with weighting toward sacks allowed," was tied for 20th among 146 qualified offensive tackles (minimum 400 snaps in pass protection).

De’Shawn Rucker, DB, USF

2025 stats: 58 tackles (1½ for loss), four pass deflections, one interception

Breakdown: What makes Rucker (5-9⅛, 192) interesting is his potential versatility, as the former Tennessee (2021-23) and USF (2024-25) defensive back has experience playing on the outside (1,123 snaps), in the box/slot (270) and at free safety (74). Rucker was solid for the Bulls in 2025, allowing 341 yards and one touchdown on 31 receptions (53 targets), good for a passer rating against of 76.1. He also recorded five run stops. Rucker, who had an encouraging performance at his pro day, ran the 40-yard dash in 4.38 seconds, which would've been tied for second among cornerbacks at the combine. He also put up 18 reps on the bench press, better than every defensive back at the combine not name Dillon Thieneman (attended Oregon, drafted by Chicago Bears), who also had 18 reps.

rsilva@detroitnews.com

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This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Detroit Lions UDFAs: A closer look at who's been added after draft