| 29 April 2012
With NFL roster sizes having been increased to 90 players, the race is on for teams to ink undrafted free agents to fill out their training camp rosters. Multiple warm bodies are a must have when in midst of August two-a-days under a withering sun. The Detroit Lions are no different, and have signed 13 players since the draft came to an end on Saturday.
The biggest name the Lions picked up is Boise State QB Kellen Moore, who is expected to become their developmental 3rd string QB. Moore has all the intangibles you want in a QB, but his lacking in size and arm strength is why he made it through all 7 rounds undrafted.
The Lions are a good match for Moore, with their need for a 3rd stringer behind Matthew Stafford and Shaun Hill and offensive coordinator Scott Linehan's excellent reputation for developing young QB's.
But Moore isn't the only player the Lions have signed, though by far the biggest name. Including Moore, they have added 13 players to the roster:
- Rodney Austin, G: Elon
- Quinn Barham, OL: Penn State
- Michael Cosgrove, DT: Idaho
- Derek Dimke, K: Illinois
- Patrick Edwards, WR: Houston
- Alex Gottlieb, TE: William & Mary
- Jared Karstetter, WR: Washington State
- Monte Lewis, DE: Jacksonville State
- Carmen Messina, LB: New Mexico
- Kellen Moore, QB: Boise State
- J.C. Oram, OL: Weber State
- Sam Proctor, S: Oklahoma
- Ronnie Sneed, ILB: Kentucky
Will any of these players, Moore excluded, be expected to make any kind of impact, let alone the 53 man roster or practice squad? To be blunt, your guess is as good as mine. Odds are, no one will. But if 1 or 2 diamonds in the rough are found, then the Lions can consider themselves extremely successful.
With the draft over and 13 more players under contract, are the Lions done? Not even close. There could be more undrafted free agents on the horizon. Don't forget there should be veteran players available via the waiver wire as rookies begin to sign their contracts, leading to rosters being semi-purged. The Lions will be on the lookout for any released veterans who could help, especially in the secondary.
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