Cut Lions rookie with a ton of potential finds a spot on Patriots’ 53-man roster
Hunter cleared waivers after Detroit cut him Sunday, but New England offered the promising undrafted rookie an active-roster opportunity the Lions’ crowded linebacker room couldn’t provide.
Well, there you go. The Detroit Lions cut UDFA Erick Hunter on Sunday and did not bring him back to the practice squad. It might not have been the Lions’ choice to lose him after all. Because he’s found a much better situation. He has signed with the New England Patriots and will be on their 53-man roster.
It’s a better situation for him, not because the Patriots are a better team; I don’t personally think they are, for what it’s worth, but it’s a better situation because it’s a 53-man roster spot over a practice squad spot, and the Patriots don’t have the linebacker corps the Lions do, where it’s hard to even find a spot for Hunter. Especially in 2027.
Jack Campbell, Derrick Barnes, the returning Jimmy Rolder, Devin White, Malcolm Rodriguez, and Trevor Nowaske were all over him on the 53-man roster, and then Joe Bachie and Amen Ogbongbemiga are over him on the practice squad. The Patriots have a decent linebacker room, but it could provide Hunter a better chance to break in.
This is reminiscent of the Lions not having space for Isaiah Williams in their receiving corps in 2024, coming to the point where they had to waive him, and he was quickly claimed by the Cincinnati Bengals. It’s kind of a good problem to have at the end of the day. You’re too deep so you have to let go of some good talent.
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