With both the UFL and NFL in their offseason lulls, it's the perfect time to dive into some offseason content. As the UFL awaits the next wave of NFL signings for the 2026 player acquisition cycle, we're taking a look back at how each NFL team has utilized spring football as a developmental pipeline during the modern era of spring football since 2022. We continue the series with the Detroit Lions, highlighting every spring league player the organization has signed over the past four years.
2022 Cycle:
Despite being one of spring football’s most aggressive teams when it comes to signing players, the Lions would only sign two players in 2022. OL Darrin Paulo (Tampa Bay Bandits) and WR Maurice Alexander (Philadelphia Stars) both earned spots on the practice squad spending the season with the team.
Paulo would be released during 2023 training camp, however Maurice Alexander would spend three seasons with the Lions, and is currently with the Chicago Bears going into his 2nd season.
The Lions also signed DB Tae Hayes (Birmingham Stallions), during training camp in 2023, however would be released after seven days with the team.
2023 Cycle:
In 2023, the Lions would increase their investment in spring football with four signings from the USFL and XFL along with two more players in later years. Kicker John Parker Romo (San Antonio Brahmas), Alex Mollette (Houston Roughnecks), and TE Daniel Helm (Memphis Showboats) all would be released at the conclusion of training camp, however the team would roster WR Trey Quinn (Michigan Panthers) would spend a week on their practice squad in October.
In 2024, WR Kaden Davis (Michigan Panthers) would spend training camp with Detroit before his release, and in 2025, DB Luq Barcoo (San Antonio Brahmas) would also serve as a “camp body” as well.
2024 Cycle:
In 2024, post XFL-USFL merger the Lions would take full advantage of the UFL signing five players from the signing class OL Jake Burton (Michigan Panthers) and LB Joel Iyiegbuniwe (San Antonio Brahmas) would be released during training camp, however Kicker Jake Bates (Michigan Panthers) would begin his career in the NFL, and is going into his third season with the team.
The team also signed Kicker Matt McCrane (D.C. Defenders), who spent a little over a month with Detroit on their practice squad. In 2025, OL Zack Johnson (Birmingham Stallions) would spend training camp with the team before his release.
2025 Cycle:
The 2025 UFL to NFL signing class would see nine players earn opportunities with the Lions. DB D.J. Miller (Michigan Panthers), TE Gunnar Oakes (Michigan Panthers), OL Gunner Britton (D.C. Defenders), OL Keaton Sutherland (Birmingham Stallions), TE Steven Stillianos (San Antonio Brahmas) and RB Deon Jackson (D.C. Defenders), would all be released at the conclusion of training camp.
DB Nick Whiteside (St. Louis Battlehawks) and RB Jacob Saylors (St. Louis Battlehawks) both would eventually make the 53-man roster playing meaningful snaps for the Lions throughout the 2025, with both players having the opportunity to make major impacts in 2026. Saylors, became the Lions primary kick returner totaling just over 900 all purpose yards for the season.
After the 2025 season TE Thomas Gordon (San Antonio Brahmas), was signed to a futures deal with Detroit, after spending time with Bears on their practice squad.
In total, twenty-seven spring football players have signed with the Detroit Lions since 2022. The Lions have been the premiere franchise for players looking to earn NFL opportunities with the franchise signing four wide receivers during the 2026 signing cycle in Tarik Black, Lucky Jackson, Lawrence Keys, and Tay Martin. Currently the Lions are rostering K Jake Bates, RB Jacob Saylors, TE Thomas Gordon, and DB Nick Whiteside however more transactions are expected towards the final week of July.