Detroit Lions UDFA cornerback Jermaine Waller retires from football

A day after being one of few absences at Day 1 of Detroit Lions minicamp, undrafted rookie cornerback Jermaine Waller has been placed on the reserve/retired list.

Undrafted rookie cornerback Jermaine Waller was one of few players absent from Day 1 of Detroit Lions mandatory minicamp on Tuesday. The reason for that is now clear. On Wednesday the team placed the Virginia Tech product on the reserve/retired list.

Waller participated in rookie minicamp and the first two weeks of OTAs. He was a three-year starter at Virginia Tech, and after missing time in 2020 he rebounded to earn second-team All-ACC honors last season (46 total tackles, four interceptions).

Waller was given a $10,000 signing bonus and $55,000 in base salary in his undrafted free agent deal. So the Lions will absorb a $65,000 cap hit as the result of Wednesday’s move.

Jermaine Waller was always a longshot to make the Lions’ roster

Waller is a test case for playing speed vs. timed speed, as the tape shows he plays faster than the 4.68 40 time he posted at the NFL Combine. But fair or not that 40 time was the top reason he went undrafted in April.

An unsettled cornerback depth chart in Detroit offered some level of opportunity for Waller to earn a roster spot. But even with that in mind, he faced an uphill battle to make the final 53-man roster if everyone gets, is and/or stays healthy.

Based on what head coach Dan Campbell wants to have on the Lions’ practice squad, players who could help right away if needed mixed with those who are more developmental, Waller could have been a strong candidate to stick around there.

The reason for Waller retiring is not clear yet–and it also doesn’t ever have to be specifically disclosed. He could un-retire and resurface somewhere else at some point, but in the moment that doesn’t appear too likely.