Pride of Detroit
In our next installment of the 2025 Detroit Lions roster rankings, we examine 10 players who have a chance to make the practice squad—and an outside chance at the 53-man roster.
Our countdown of the Detroit Lions’ 2025 roster. continues with players we ranked from 80 to 71. This list features some of the leftover players from Detroit’s 2025 UDFA class, but it also features a few names from last year’s squad. What’s interesting about this list is that I figured a few of these familiar names would be higher on the list, but it speaks to the team’s overall depth that all of these players will not only be fighting to make the 53-man roster, but many could even miss the practice squad, as well.
Previously:
Last year’s ranking: N/A
Hallett was added to the Lions’ practice squad in 2024, so he did not make last year’s list. But he must have done enough on the squad to warrant a futures deal he was offered this offseason. At just 25 years old, Hallett will be part of the youth movement at safety that will challenge for the fourth (and fifth?) safety spots on the roster.
Last year’s ranking: N/A
No UDFA received more contract guarantees than Keeney-James ($254,000), which puts him in the early lead for the UDFA most likely to make an impact. At the very least, he seems like a strong candidate to make the practice squad, but with a couple receivers on the team with a similar speedy, evasive playing style (Kalif Raymond, Dominic Lovett), it’ll be a tough road to the 53-man roster in his rookie season.
Last year’s ranking: N/A
When the injury bug hit last year, Thomas-Oliver was added to the practice squad and even got the call up late in the year—although he was limited to just five special teams snaps for Detroit.
With 26 game appearances at the NFL level, Thomas-Oliver has some experience and special teams skills to contend for a spot on the roster, but Detroit’s depth at cornerback runs relatively deep. He’d have to beat out Rock Ya-Sin and the fifth-best safety.
Last year’s ranking: N/A
Meeks is the other receiver in this year’s UDFA class, and he had a somewhat impressive showing at rookie minicamp earlier this offseason. His athletic profile (6-foot-2 and 6.79 three-cone) is tempting enough to believe he could be a diamond in the rough. Throw in the fact that he was recruited to Georgia and shined once he transferred to Syracuse (1,021 yards, seven touchdowns in 2024), and the potential is there.
Last year’s ranking: N/A
It’s fair to say the POD staff is not high on the Lions’ projected third-string quarterback....
