Our countdown of the Detroit Lions’ 2025 roster. continues with players we ranked from 80 to 71. This list features some of the leftover players from Detroit’s 2025 UDFA class, but it also features a few names from last year’s squad. What’s interesting about this list is that I figured a few of these familiar names would be higher on the list, but it speaks to the team’s overall depth that all of these players will not only be fighting to make the 53-man roster, but many could even miss the practice squad, as well.
Previously:
80. S Erick Hallett (Highest ranking: 72, Lowest ranking: 83)
Last year’s ranking: N/A
Hallett was added to the Lions’ practice squad in 2024, so he did not make last year’s list. But he must have done enough on the squad to warrant a futures deal he was offered this offseason. At just 25 years old, Hallett will be part of the youth movement at safety that will challenge for the fourth (and fifth?) safety spots on the roster.
79. WR Jakobie Keeney-James (Highest: 68, Lowest: 86)
Last year’s ranking: N/A
No UDFA received more contract guarantees than Keeney-James ($254,000), which puts him in the early lead for the UDFA most likely to make an impact. At the very least, he seems like a strong candidate to make the practice squad, but with a couple receivers on the team with a similar speedy, evasive playing style (Kalif Raymond, Dominic Lovett), it’ll be a tough road to the 53-man roster in his rookie season.
78. CB Stantley Thomas-Oliver (Highest: 68, Lowest: 86)
Last year’s ranking: N/A
When the injury bug hit last year, Thomas-Oliver was added to the practice squad and even got the call up late in the year—although he was limited to just five special teams snaps for Detroit.
With 26 game appearances at the NFL level, Thomas-Oliver has some experience and special teams skills to contend for a spot on the roster, but Detroit’s depth at cornerback runs relatively deep. He’d have to beat out Rock Ya-Sin and the fifth-best safety.
77. WR Jackson Meeks (Highest: 67, Lowest: 87)
Last year’s ranking: N/A
Meeks is the other receiver in this year’s UDFA class, and he had a somewhat impressive showing at rookie minicamp earlier this offseason. His athletic profile (6-foot-2 and 6.79 three-cone) is tempting enough to believe he could be a diamond in the rough. Throw in the fact that he was recruited to Georgia and shined once he transferred to Syracuse (1,021 yards, seven touchdowns in 2024), and the potential is there.
76. QB Kyle Allen (Highest: 62, Lowest: 90)
Last year’s ranking: N/A
It’s fair to say the POD staff is not high on the Lions’ projected third-string quarterback. Allen is a seven-year veteran backup quarterback, but he hasn’t started a game since 2022. While the Lions have publicly said the backup quarterback is a true competition between Allen and Hendon Hooker, it’s clear we don’t think he’ll push Hooker for the job.
75. EDGE Nate Lynn (Highest: 70, Lowest: 78)
Last year’s ranking: 82
After coming in at the bottom 10 of our list last year, Lynn jumps to the next range after spending all of his rookie season on injured reserve. Lynn was having a promising training camp when he suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in the preseason opener against the Giants. There is plenty of room on the roster for some defensive end depth, although the drafting of Ahmed Hassanein will make Lynn’s path to the roster a little more difficult.
74. OT Jamarco Jones (Highest: 61, Lowest: 82)
Last year’s ranking: N/A
Jones just missed the deadline for last year’s list, joining the team mid-training camp. He lasted the entire season on the team’s practice squad and even got the call-up twice during the season. But as the Lions are hoping Giovanni Manu takes the next step to be active in a few games, it could push Jones—a seven-year veteran—back to the practice squad.
73. WR Tom Kennedy (Highest: 64, Lowest: 77)
Last year’s ranking: 62
Kennedy has been a shoo-in for the practice squad for the past six years, and there’s a good chance that’s where he’s headed again this year. The Lions love his tenacious attitude and his value as a scout team player. But with limited skills on special teams, it’s hard to justify a spot on the 53-man roster given Detroit’s depth at wideout.
72. LB Ezekiel Turner (Highest: 65, Lowest: 80)
Last year’s ranking: N/A
Yet another mid-season addition amidst Detroit’s linebacker injuries, Turner has a very strong reputation as a special teams player, and he has looked strong in limited defensive appearances over his previous six seasons. However, Turner struggled when the Lions were forced to play him on defense—particularly against the Bills—which is likely why he’s ranked so low on this list.
Still, Turner has logged 1,945 special teams snaps in his career—including five seasons with at least 390. That gives him a fighting chance at the roster.
71. EDGE Isaac Ukwu (Highest: 60, Lowest: 79)
Last year’s ranking: 85
Ukwu was one of the biggest surprises during the preseason. He tallied a team-high 3.0 sacks, had two quarterback hits, and a forced fumble.
Despite that, Ukwu didn’t make the 53-man roster and spent the entire season on the practice squad. He did get two elevations from the squad and made appearances in Weeks 5 and 7, but after playing in 70 defensive snaps and producing just three tackles, he was relegated back to the practice squad for the rest of the season.