Detroit Lions fans have been hoping for a star pass rusher to pair with Aidan Hutchinson for years. The pass rush depth and quality have long been considered a weakness for the Lions, but the front office has hesitated to invest significant resources to address this need.
Yet, GM Brad Holmes still made moves to revamp the rotation. The Lions drafted Derrick Moore in the second round and signed DJ Wonnum and Payton Turner in free agency. The departure of Al-Quadin Muhammad may hurt, but the Lions believe that the position is deeper than ever.
In fact, there may be another addition on the EDGE that has gone under the radar who may become a surprise contributor.
Anthony Lucas, who went undrafted and signed with the Lions after the 2026 NFL Draft, has made quite the impression on the coaching staff during the organized team activities.
Anthony Lucas is a name to watch in Lions training camp
Richard Silva of The Detroit News reported that defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard called Lucas "a game-wrecker," referring to his USC tape, before adding, "So, (Lucas was) a guy I had my radar up on, like, 'How did we get this guy undrafted? So, we are very excited."
More importantly for Lucas' prospects of making the roster, however, were Dan Campbell's remarks. The head coach brought up Lucas' name when he was talking about how the Lions revamped the defensive end group across from Hutchinson. Campbell said that they now have "size, length, and athletic ability on the perimeter."
Length is certainly what stands out with Lucas. With a six-foot-six frame and a seven-foot wingspan, Lucas has elite length. His production was underwhelming, finishing with three sacks for his collegiate career, and he suffered a season-ending lower leg injury in 2024, which lowered his draft stock. His burst and speed are considered to be weaknesses, as well as his strength, due to his slight frame.
Yet, it was still a big surprise when his name wasn't announced in the draft. Silva noted that The Athletic had Lucas as the No. 24 edge defender in the draft, Dane Brugler gave him a fifth-to-sixth-round grade, and Pro Football Focus ranked him as the No. 109 prospect in the draft.
It's certainly exciting that the Lions were able to take advantage of Lucas' fall in the draft. Now, it's up to him to earn himself a role with the team.
As things stand now, Wonnum projects to be the starter across from Hutch. Moore will get snaps right away, but the rest of the EDGE snaps are up for grabs. Turner, West, Lacy, and Ahmed Hassanein will all get a chance to prove themselves to the team in training camp. It looks like Lucas will have as good a chance as any of those names to be a part of the rotation.
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