Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes finally put some resources into the team’s edge-rusher position when he traded up to land Michigan edge-rusher Derrick Moore as the team’s No. 44 overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft.
But, he didn’t stop there. After years of not prioritizing the edge-rusher position, something, or someone, got to Holmes, and he also went ahead and signed undrafted rookie edge-rusher Anthony Lucas of USC, according to the Trojans’ official social media channels, and that may be his smartest move yet.
They say you can never have too many edge-rushers, and that’s the case here. Plus, the position is the second most expensive in the NFL, only behind the quarterback, so loading up on rookie edge-rushers is a smart move.
What makes Anthony Lucas a solid fit for the Detroit Lions?
Lucas is already being called one of the smartest moves the Lions made after the draft. His production for the 2025-26 season wasn’t strong enough to be drafted, but he still has potential to help add depth to the edge room. He ended his season at USC with a 77.1 pass-rushing grade from Pro Football Focus.
In an April 29 article for Sports Illustrated, Christian Booher names Lucas the No. 1 signing for the Lions when it comes to undrafted rookies.
“The Lions landed one of the consensus highest-rated undrafted free agents in Lucas,” Booher wrote. “He never quite lived up to the high expectations he had coming out of high school as a five-star recruit, but has athletic tools and upside that could lead to more production with development.”
Brad Berreman of SideLion Report also likes Lucas for the Lions, stating that his size and length, at 6-foot-5 and 256 pounds, are a “nice starting point for his development.”
“The Lions should not ignore or overlook that when OTAs with the entire team get going, and during training camp,” Berreman said. “If it comes to that, with the 53-man roster a living in-season organism, the Lions should at least hope they can keep Lucas on the practice squad during his rookie season.”
So, the Lions may have made a sneaky good move in Lucas following the draft, and it’s one that will help beef up their edge-rusher depth in just the right way.