The Detroit Lions have found some gems by scouting the UFL throughout the offseason. Last year, they landed Jacob Saylors, who became a nice depth piece in their running back room and with their special teams unit. He remains on the roster, and with Kalif Raymond gone, he stands to compete for an even bigger role on special teams in 2026.
Could they recreate that magic with a familiar face? A to Z Sports' Mike Payton certainly believes so, with the Lions writer proposing that Detroit circle the wagons on former Lions edge rusher Cam Gill this offseason. Gill was on the Lions' practice squad in 2024, prior to signing with the Carolina Panthers.
"Gill wouldn’t start for the Lions or anything like that, but he can compete for a depth role with his pass-rush ability and his decent run-stopping prowess. The Lions brought eight edges into camp last year. Right now, they have seven. Why not grab one more?"
Lions writer proposes a perfect UFL target for Lions ahead of 2026 training camp
Gill, as Payton notes in his article, is having a nice season with the UFL. In six games so far with the Louisville Kings, he's racked up 16 solo tackles, 6.5 sacks for 49.5 lost yards, a forced fumble and a recovery, as well as nine tackles for loss for 52 yards lost total. In short, he's been a force for them.
Detroit's got some questions at pass rusher despite leaning into that need in the draft and with their UDFA signings. Derrick Moore's floor is high, but you wonder how ready he is to take starter's snaps next to Aidan Hutchinson. D.J. Wonnum has potential, but again, there are concerns about just how much defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard can really dig out of him.
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Signing someone like Gill, who has familiarity with the team from his 2024 stint on the practice squad and who has clearly been getting some burn in the UFL, would be a smart move for the Lions as they continue to think ahead to their 53-man roster. More competition won't hurt anyone, especially as Detroit already has their EDGE1 firmly situated.
There are still several free agent pass rusher options on the market for the Lions to kick the tires on, like Cam Jordan, Joey Bosa, and A.J. Epenesa, just to name a few. With just over $22 million available to the Lions prior to signing rookies to their deals, per Over The Cap, they have all the flexibility in the world to add more EDGE talent ahead of the 2026 season.
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