2017 Detroit Lions undrafted free agent tracker

The 2017 NFL Draft may be over, but the Detroit Lions are anything but done making player acquisitions. Every year, teams add around a dozen undrafted players (undrafted free agents or UDFAs) to their roster and invite another 10-15 players for a tryout during rookie minicamp.

Please be aware that as news and rumors come in, sometimes news will change. Players will change their minds and get swayed by other teams at the last moment. We will do our best to label news as “rumors” until they are confirmed by the team.

While many of these signings will turn out to be nothing more than a glorified tryout, every year a few of these players end up making a run at the Lions’ final roster or even manage a bit of playing time. In 2016, UDFAs Adairius Barnes, Jace Billingsley, and Cole Wick all saw time on the Lions’ active roster during the season.

Lions 2017 UDFA signings

OL Storm Norton (Toledo) - Source — (Scouting report)
WR Michael Rector (Stanford) - Source — (Scouting report)
DE Alex Barrett (San Diego State) - Source — (Scouting report)
OL Leo Koloamatangi (Hawaii) - Source — (Scouting report)
WR Noel Thomas (UConn) - Source — (Scouting report)
DT Maurice Swain Jr. (Auburn) - Source
DB Des Lawrence (North Carolina) - Source — (Scouting report)
WR/TE Robert Tonyan Jr. (Indiana State) - Source — (Scouting report)
TE Brandon Barnes (Alabama State) - Source — (Scouting report)
RB Tion Green (Cincinnati) - Source
DE Jeremiah Valoaga (UNLV) - Source — (Scouting report)
CB Josh Thornton (Southern Utah) - Source
DT Nick James (Mississippi State) - Source
WR Dontez Ford (Pittsburgh) - UNVERIFIED SOURCE
WR De’Quan Hampton (USC) - Source
G Cameron Young (Weber State) - Source

UDFAs invited to Lions minicamp

TE Billy Freeman (San Diego State) - Source
QB/TE Luke Papillion (Sioux Falls) - Source*
QB Tyler Stewart (Nevada) - Source
RB Bradley Mitchell (Mt. Union) - Source - Kent Lee Platte profile here
RB Jonah Hodges (San Diego) - Source
LB D.J. May (Wyoming) - Source

*Although he played quarterback in college, Dave Birkett is reporting he’ll try out as a tight end.