Birmingham Stallions Sign ANOTHER Wide Receiver..What Does He Bring to the Table in 2024?

Chris Lacy is a name Oklahoma State fans know well. He attended OSU for four seasons racking up a list of awards along the way. Including being a three-time First Team Academic All-Big 12 award winner, and a two-time Vernon Grant award winner given for displaying Leadership, Spirit, and Enthusiasm. He would graduate with his degree in Industrial Engineering and Management after the 2017 season and declare for the 2018 NFL Draft. 

NFL Combine/Pre-Draft Stock 

Coming out of college with just 63 receptions, 920 yards and 5 touchdowns in college certainly did not set Lacy up to be a high draft pick. Regardless of his production at that time his size and speed displayed at the combine was enough to attract several NFL teams. Weighing in at 6’3 205 pounds, Lacy flew to a 4.51 40-yard dash with a 1.56 10-yard split. He also put up 11 repetitions in the bench which arguably left a little to be desired in the strength category. 

He decided to try and improve upon those numbers at his pro-day and he made significant strides. Running a 4.44, with a slightly faster 10-yard split, and managed 2 inches higher in the vertical with a 35.5 inch leap. He would also run the 3-cone drill something he did not do at the combine. His number 7.29 didn’t necessarily do him any favors. 

After this teams had seen he has the requisite size, speed, and hand size to be successful as an NFL wideout and started to sniff around the OSU alum. His lack of college production hampered his draft stock, resulting in him falling to the UDFA pool. In an effort to mitigate some of this Lacy attended the 2018 College Gridiron Showcase.

Chris Lacy WR Oklahoma State
Balled out at CGS 2018 by showing his strong hands and speed! He was signed by the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent and now currently is playing for the Detroit Lions! Here is what he had to say on his experience! @Gifted_CLacy pic.twitter.com/2S20rVrWI8

— The College Gridiron Showcase (@CGSAllStar) February 22, 2019

NFL Career Begins

On May 11, 2018, the New England Patriots extended a contract to Lacey, which he quickly signed. However, just seven days later, the patriot showed Lacey the door without him even stepping foot in training camp.

His time on the waiver wire did not last long as the Detroit Lions decided to claim him. He would remain with Detroit all the way until final cuts in the beginning of September. He would not see any time in preseason but the Lions chose to retain him on the Practice Squad. Toward the end of the year he was elevated to the active roster for the last two games of the season.

Lions See Potential 

Ultimately, Lacy would hang around the lions for a couple years. In 2019 it was the same story given a chance to compete in training camp. This time he saw the field in preseason catching 3 passes for 29 yards. He showed enough to initially make the 53 man roster. He was released after week 2 and re-signed to the practice squad. He was called up again in November, and was active for five games. 

He caught his first regular season pass in week 15 against the Buccaneers in a 38 to 17 loss. His one touch went for 48 yards. He was active again against Denver, but did not catch a pass. He would finish out the season catching two passes for 12 yards against the Green Bay Packers giving him 3 receptions for 60 yards on the year. 

He returned for 2020, only to be released before he appeared in a preseason game. He was re-signed 11 days later but his final stint in Detroit lasted just 3 weeks as he was released again for good in early September. 

Continuing his Career with the Cowboys

After about half the season had passed, the Dallas Cowboys reached out and decided to bring Lacey in on their practice squad. This fit the Cowboys are hurts very well as every receiver they had was 6’1 or better in 2020. Lacy would finish out the year with Dallas’s practice squad and accept his future’s offer after the season. 

This didn’t last long unfortunately, as Lacy was released by Dallas on March 19th 2024. It would take 2 months before he resurfaced with Chicago competing for a role with what was now his fourth NFL team in just three seasons. He stuck with Chicago until the end of August but didn’t appear in a preseason game with them. 

Finally one more team wanted to give him a chance to see what he could do. Nearly a full year after being let go by Chicago, the Las Vegas Raiders signed Lacy on August 10th, after most of training camp was over. Despite having just 13 days and limited snaps in games to win over coaches he ended up sticking with the Raiders for most of 2022 on their practice squad. He was called up for week 18 but didn’t log any stats. 

After the 2022 season concluded the Raiders opted to sign Lacy to a futures deal which he accepted and returned to compete for a roster spot this time with a full offseason to prepare. He would again make it through to the end of August but would wind up injured and was placed on injured reserve. The Raiders released him just a week later, and he sat out the remainder of the NFL season. 

Stallions Get Another Jump-ball Threat at WR

Bringing in Lacy gives the Stallions another recent NFL option outside at wide receiver rounding out their group. As it stands the Stallions have ten receivers on their roster and only two of which are 28 years or older in Victor Bolden and Chris Lacy. I believe Lacy has a very good chance at knocking other names off the roster and claiming a roster spot for 2024. 

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