Introducing the Detroit Lions 2015 Undrafted Free Agents
By Kent Platte
-USA TODAY Sports
Kyle Brindza, K, Notre Dame
The Detroit Lions signed 2014 embattled kicker Matt Prater to a contract extension and have punter Sam Martin still on his rookie contract. Both are good and are unlikely to be supplanted. That doesn’t prevent the team from needing an extra leg for training camp, and Kyle Brindza just happens to be both a kicker and punter. Convenient! This class of kickers and punters was unusually poor and it would be equally unusual if Brindza makes it out of training camp in a Lions uniform.
Kevin Snyder, LB, Rutgers
I was surprised how much I liked Kevin Snyder on tape. Primarily a downhill thumper type and obviously lacking in some measurable aspects of football athleticism, Snyder is a bundle of energy on the field. Aggressive and quick, he spends every play attacking, which teams used against him on occasion. The Detroit Lions have a deep LB corps and it’s unlikely an undrafted free agent could make this squad without playing extremely well on special teams. I think this is the type of attitude new ST coordinator Joe Marciano was looking for.
Al Bond, OG, Memphis
Despite doubling down in the draft at guard (Tomlinson and trading for Ramirez), the Detroit Lions brought in two undrafted free agent guards to training camp, the first of which is Al Bond from Memphis.
Bond measured below average to bad in nearly every measurable area athletically. There isn’t really a lot to add to Bond, who looked every bit of the heavy footed and sloppy guard. He looked better than Rodney Austin did coming out of Elon, though, and he stuck for three years so there’s obviously room for him if he puts on a show in camp and preseason.
Torrian Wilson, OG, Central Florida
Like Bond, there isn’t much to add for Torrian Wilson. Primarily a run blocker, Wilson fell into the “people mover” stereotype at guard, but wasn’t nearly as effective on his heels in the pass game. A decent camp body, he has the same types of chances of making this roster that Al Bond does, primarily because the team is hoping to improve their rushing game. At worst, he’s probably depth.