The Lions clearly view UFL players at a different level than the rest of the league, here’s why, plus a look at the Lions new up and comer from the spring league
Brad Holmes and the Detroit Lions have been lauded over and over again for their scouting efforts in the NFL Draft and for some of the free agent signings. But we don’t talk a lot about how the Lions have been one of the few teams in the NFL that have really gone in on […]
Brad Holmes and the Detroit Lions have been lauded over and over again for their scouting efforts in the NFL Draft and for some of the free agent signings. But we don’t talk a lot about how the Lions have been one of the few teams in the NFL that have really gone in on scouting and signing players from the UFL.
Since Holmes and company showed up, the Lions have signed 13 different players from the UFL. Three of those players have been signed this summer. Former St. Louis Battlehawks cornerback Nick Whiteside, Michigan Panthers cornerback D.J. Miller, and Battlehawks running back Jacob Saylors. The others were:
- Michigan Panthers K Jake Bates
- Michigan Panthers OL Jacob Burton
- San Antonio Brahmas LB Joel Iyiegbuniwe
- DC Defenders K Matt McCrane
- Michigan Panthers WR Trey Quinn
- Memphis Showboats TE Daniel Helm
- San Antonio Brahmas K John Parker Romo
- San Antonio Brahmas C Alex Mollette
- Memphis Showboats OL Darrin Paulo
- Philadelphia Stars WR Maurice Alexander
The Lions haven’t found many starters picking from the UFL, but they’ve routinely found practice-squad players and rotational guys. So it’s beneficial to continue to go this route. This year, the Lions’ potential practice squad guy is Jacob Saylors. We talked with Saylors on Monday about why he thinks the Lions keep bringing in UFL players.
“…No doubt about it, UFL produces a lot of talent, I think more so these teams see that we’re coming off a season, and, you know, we’re conditioned, we’re ready, we’re not afraid to contact. And you know, they see with the UFL, it gives them so much opportunity to see us on a on a week to week basis in these games, you know, do the the bad stuff and the good stuff and, you know, they just, I suppose they like what they see, and they want to get us in here and add competition to this level as well.”
Lions head coach Dan Campbell echoed that sentiment in a press conference just a couple of weeks ago.
“…Because you get to see them, man they’re playing in the spring, so they’re in shape, they’re just coming off of running around, being football ready and so that’s enticing to us too. It’s like, man, if you need a guy, at least you know you’ve got evidence right there versus somebody that’s been home for three months. Yeah, they can say they’re working out, but you don’t know. It’s not football working out, like these guys are. So it’s still a little bit of that way, you do feel like you see some of these guys develop and maybe got a chance to pluck them and bring them in.”
In addition to players, the Lions have also started to bring in coaches from the UFL. Over the offseason, the Lions hired former Battlehawks offensive coordinator Bruce Gradkowski as an offensive assistant. For Saylors, that makes things even easier in Detroit for him.
“It’s a comfortable feeling. Kind of having that safe space, if you will, with a coach. You know, I’m having that feedback, unbiased feedback, somebody that you have that history with, and even today, during practice, just the excitement that he has whenever I do something good, and the way he’s able to coach me up if I do something bad.”
Saylors is coming off an Al-UFL season in 2025 in which he put up 744 total yards and five touchdowns. It’s going to be hard for him to crack the 53-man roster with Jahmyr Gibbs, David Montgomery, Sione Vaki, and Craig Reynolds. But he could absolutley take that Jermar Jefferson spot on the practice squad. With Kye Robichaux gone now and Saylors having more than a week with the team under his belt, we should see an extended look at him against the Falcons on Friday.
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