We’re two months removed from the 2025 NFL Draft and the Detroit Lions will be entering training camp in just over three weeks. The rookies will be the first to report on July 16th and veterans will report on July 19th. Football season is right around the corner.
As we see year over year, each team will build their roster around 90 players and quickly, that roster will get trimmed to 53 players. Right now, the Lions have 45 players listed on defense, 42 players listed on offense and 3 players on special teams. Without going into too much detail, the depth chart could be close to set on paper. However, we all know that Dan Campbell lives and breathes competition so it will always be “may the best man win” for building the depth chart in Detroit.
When looking at the tight end position for the Lions, this feels like a wide open competition for potentially the 3rd and/or 4th spot on the depth chart. At the top, it may be safe to assume that Sam LaPorta and Brock Wright are locked into the first and second spots. Behind them, it’s a guessing game with names such as Shane Zylstra, Kenny Yeboah, Zach Horton and Luke Deal.
Most would assume that Zylstra will earn a spot like he has in the past with the Lions but nothing is guaranteed. After all, Zylstra has battled through injuries and only played 109 snaps on offense and 194 snaps on special teams last season.
The one player that I would circle and bet on to potentially win a roster spot is tight end Luke Deal. Despite not being selected in the 2025 NFL Draft, Deal accepted a mini-camp invite and earned himself a contract with the Lions. Signing as an undrafted free agent clearly means that nothing is guaranteed. However, it’s clear that the Lions saw something in Deal to offer him a contract.
LUKE DEAL ARE YOU SERIOUS 😱
📺 SEC on ABC pic.twitter.com/k3ugmD9bLC
— Auburn Football (@AuburnFootball) September 28, 2024
Playing six seasons with the Auburn Tigers, Deal was primarily a blocking tight end that made strong contributions on special teams. During his six seasons at Auburn, he started 19 of 65 games. On offense, he recorded 17 catches for 116 yards and two touchdowns. At his pro day, he ran the 40-yard dash in 5.14 seconds and had 24 reps in the bench press.
At 24-years old, Deal is older for a rookie but his experience, leadership and work ethic stand out. Meanwhile, it fits exactly what the Lions look for in players when piecing their roster together. Certainly, the odds are stacked against the rookie from Auburn but if there’s any UDFA to make the 53-man roster, he may have the best path to make the most of his opportunity.
This article originally appeared on Lions Wire: Lions UDFA TE Luke Deal chances to make Detroit’s 53-man roster