The Initial 53 Man Roster

[One-If-By-Sea]

Canada made it because of Schooler's injury.
Arkin made it because of Hill's injury.

Jacobs deserved to make the team even with good drafts.

Yes the depth is depleted in areas because of the Maye draft.

Certain draft picks might have been cut with better veterans (Obiazor/Hutchins) and some veterans (Woods/Pettus) might have been too, as well as some of the waiver pickups/trades wouldn't have happened, but the UFA's weren't affected IMO.

This year's draft picks and UDFAs are not equivalent to a 3rd year player. That is what Vrabel is referring to as "depth", younger and experienced players (not 1st year rookies) that we are missing due to the bust known as the 2024 draft.

 

[PatsFan2]

Over the past 3 years, including Maye’s year where every player but Maye is gone

You're forgetting the declining BB and Mayo two years prior.

 

[PatsFan2]

This year's draft picks and UDFAs are not equivalent to a 3rd year player. That is what Vrabel is referring to as "depth", younger and experienced players (not 1st year rookies) that we are missing due to the bust know as the 2024 draft.

 

[mgteich]

As is often the case, we don't even recognize STers and don't expect our own new STes to make the 53. I expct several to conibute on ST's this year. Examples that come to mind are

Muasau (also our "best" backup linebacker
Hutchins
Canada
Latu
Britt (now on the PS)

 

[Wozzy]

The reason three UDFAs made the team is because so many of their draft picks have been busts.

They played in the Super Bowl last year genius. They had four rookie starters and about 8 rookies total playing roles on the team.

Do you think before you troll this board?

 

[Lagaffe_07]

 

[manxman2601]

 

[n1997y]

Meanwhile Lions fans are questioning why he isn’t on their practice squad.


5 mistakes the Lions may have made during roster cuts, including one Brad Holmes needs to explain

 

[manxman2601]

A 6'2, 224lb linebacker signed as a UDFA by the Lions last year.

Undersized, but he is explosive. Check out his KR for a TD.

 

[PatsFan2]

A 6'2, 224lb linebacker signed as a UDFA by the Lions last year.

Undersized, but he is explosive. Check out his KR for a TD.

So who's off??

 

[Brady85-23]

So who's off??

Please be charles woods. Who cares what dirt he has on vrabel or kraft

 

[manxman2601]

It looks like he sat out almost all of 2024 with injury, but between '23 and '25 he had 9 sacks,

 

[manxman2601]

Ben Brown is back too.

 

[manxman2601]

Meanwhile Lions fans are questioning why he isn’t on their practice squad.


5 mistakes the Lions may have made during roster cuts, including one Brad Holmes needs to explain

Those are some special grades. He's also supposed to be a special teams standout. He's someone to root for, and this early in his NFL career, someone who could still develop. It'll be tough for a 225lb linebacker though.

 

[Hammer of Thor]

So who's off??

They had two open spots yesterday, so he and Brown are filling them.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

A 6'2, 224lb linebacker signed as a UDFA by the Lions last year.

Undersized, but he is explosive. Check out his KR for a TD.

I love faster guys. Tall and lean so I assume he can add 10 to 15 lbs. A great story. Let's hope he keeps growing.

 

[mgteich]

Some posters really liked our roster coming into TC, starters, backups, and bottom of the roster players.

We have a playoff team. I cannot recall us ever adding 7 players to the 53-man roster roster after August 15th. A punter will be 8.

 

[silentone]

A 6'2, 224lb linebacker signed as a UDFA by the Lions last year.

Undersized, but he is explosive. Check out his KR for a TD.

manxman - thanks for these highlights. I noticed when he's not on a predetermined blitz, he seems to pause right after the snap and not really move (at 0:55, 1:26, 2:08, 3:16 for example caught my eye) . It seems like a long time but probably a fraction of a second. In your film studies, is what he is doing the norm for linebackers and is it how he processes and reacts or are some linebackers coached this way. Also, to my untrained eye, he seems very linear in his reacting and running. Almost feels like "see ball" run "get ball".

 

[manxman2601]

manxman - thanks for these highlights. I noticed when he's not on a predetermined blitz, he seems to pause right after the snap and not really move. It seems like a long time but probably a fraction of a second. In your film studies, is what he is doing the norm for linebackers and is it how he processes and reacts or are some linebackers coached that way.

I don't think it's a concern - a linebacker in read and react mode needs a moment to read the play. The other reason I'm less concerned is that he has the speed and explosiveness to compensate for any delay. The thing about those highlights that does concern me a little is that there's no evidence of him taking on blockers, he's shooting gaps. That doesn't mean he can't do it, but at 225lbs you really need to see that he can before getting too excited.

However, I am fairly excited. He has NFL athleticism, he was one of the best linebackers in the history of his school, he's only been doing it for four years which means there is potential for growth and in his limited NFL experience, he graded really well. On top of that, he's fresh to the NFL after only one year and it sounds like he's smart and a hard worker. He might not amount to anything, but he has really intrigued me.

 

[manxman2601]