After years of being accused, rightly or wrongly, of not devoting enough resources to the position, Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes used a second-round pick on Michigan edge rusher Derrick Moore.
While Moore is in line for a notable role right away, the idea you can never have enough edge rushers applies. Free agent signings D.J. Wonnum and Payton Turner may have their roles impacted by Moore, but the league's best pass rushes can come at you with waves of fresh legs.
To that end, the Lions added some undrafted rookies to the mix on the defensive front. Their chances of sticking stands to be hurt by the team not having rookie minicamp, though, since that is quite simply an extra opportunity for unheralded rookies to impress coaches and it has now been taken away.
Lions' undrafted rookie could still develop into a factor
Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report has named an undrafted rookie with the best chance to make each team's roster. For the Lions. he went with USC edge rusher Anthony Lucas.
"While second-round rookie Derrick Moore figures to be Hutchinson's new long-term running mate, undrafted USC product Anthony Lucas can eventually carve out a role in the rotation. The 6'5½", 256-pound pass-rusher has the physical makeup and skill set needed to fit right into Detroit's defensive system."
"Lucas has intriguing physical traits, standing at 6'5", 267 pounds, with impressive quickness and movement skills," Matt Holder of the B/R Scouting Department wrote. "His frame and athleticism makes him an appealing developmental prospect among the class' edge-rushers."
"While Lucas' collegiate production was lacking (3 sacks, 3.5 tackles for loss in 2025), he's perfectly suited to develop on the back end of Detroit's roster."
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Lucas has just those three sacks across his four college seasons (three at USC, one at Texas A&M). But his final college season was the only one where he played more than 250 defensive snaps, and he earned a 77.1 pass rushing grade from Pro Football Focus last season.
Lucas also earned a 75.1 passing rush grade in 2024, and in total over his last two seasons at USC he had 37 pressures on 381 pass rush snaps.
Lucas' NFL size and length (6-foot-5, 256 pounds, 33 and 1/2-inch arms, 10 and 1/4-inch hand size) is a nice starting point for his development. The Lions should not ignore or overlook that when OTAs with the entire team get going, and during training camp.
If it comes to that, with the 53-man roster a living in-season organism, the Lions should at least hope they can keep Lucas on the practice squad during his rookie season.
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