Understanding UDFA contracts can provide insight into the team’s expectations. These contracts typically consist of three main components: the base salary for the year, the signing bonus, and any guaranteed money. For 2025, the base salary is set at $845,000, and there’s a pre-determined budget of about $206,000 that the team can allocate across all UDFAs. The signing bonus acts as an incentive for a player to join a particular team, and the guarantees give the team a bit of leverage in ensuring the player sticks around. However, if a player with guaranteed money is released, the remaining amount hits the team’s salary cap.

Looking at Detroit’s 2025 UDFA class and the financial guarantees attached to these players can offer clues as to who is likely to make a strong push for a roster spot.

Wide Receivers in the Spotlight

The Lions have traditionally favored wide receivers in UDFA signings, particularly those who receive significant bonuses. Under the current regime, any UDFA who gets a signing bonus of at least $20,000 has generally stuck with the team for at least two seasons, as seen with players like Kingsley Eguakun, Connor Galvin, and Obinna Eze.

In 2025, wide receivers Jakobie Keeney-James and Jackson Meeks both received $20,000 signing bonuses, which places them in an advantageous position. Even with the Lions having drafted two receivers in the 2025 draft—Isaac TeSlaa and Dominic Lovett—this suggests that the team is high on Keeney-James and Meeks. The Lions may keep all four wideouts in the mix, either by placing some on the active roster or developing others on the practice squad.

A Merit-Based Approach

The Lions have a clear philosophy: the best players make the roster, regardless of their signing bonus. This approach has led to some unpredictability, especially when it comes to UDFAs. For example, in 2024, the Lions retained eight of their 15 UDFAs, though only one of the six players with the largest guarantees stayed for more than a season.

In the 2023 UDFA class, two players remain on the roster, including one who was quickly brought back after being claimed during his rookie season. Connor Galvin, who had the most guarantees in 2023, was released after two years on the practice squad.

Looking back further, the 2022 UDFA class was notably disappointing, with only Obinna Eze—who had the highest guarantees—remaining beyond one season. In contrast, the Lions’ first UDFA class in 2021 has seen some success, particularly with Brock Wright, who earned a second contract after making the roster.

Limited Opportunities for Lower-Guaranteed Players

Despite the Lions’ track record of rewarding players based on performance, the number of opportunities for lower-tier UDFAs is limited. Players who receive signing bonuses of less than $20,000 and guarantees under $100,000 typically have only a short window—July and August—to prove their worth. If they don’t impress in training camp, their chances of making the roster, or even the practice squad, shrink significantly.

Conclusion: Can the Lions Uncover Another Hidden Gem?

The 2025 UDFA class brings in a strong group of players, and the contracts suggest that the Lions are particularly high on their wide receivers. While the team’s deep roster means competition will be fierce, there is still a chance for some of these players to make a mark. The Lions have shown they’re willing to keep players around if they impress, even if their initial guarantees are low. But with such a loaded roster, only the most standout performances during training camp will ensure a spot on the team. Will Detroit find another diamond in the rough, or will the depth of the roster leave these UDFAs fighting for a few remaining spots? Time will tell when training camp begins.