3 Undrafted Free Agents Who Could Make Lions' 2023 Roster
After the 2023 NFL Draft ended, it was on to finding undrafted free agents that could potentially fill out the Lions' roster during the upcoming season.
In the hours following the draft, Detroit general manager Brad Holmes added 13 players that fit the bill.
Without further ado, here are the three undrafted free agents picked up by Holmes & Co. that All Lions believes have the best chance of making the Lions' season-opening roster.
RB Mohamed Ibrahim
To me, Ibrahim is clearly the Lions' best undrafted free-agent pickup.
With D'Andre Swift gone now, Ibrahim could slide into the role of Detroit's third-string running back by the start of the 2023 season.
Sure, Craig Reynolds is currently ahead of the undrafted rookie on the depth chart. However, with a solid training camp, I believe that the Minnesota Golden Gophers product could move past Reynolds on the depth chart.
Prior to the draft, it was widely expected that Ibrahim would be drafted. For instance, he received a fifth-round pre-draft grade from NFL Draft Bible.
The 5-foot-10, 210-pounder profiles as a bruising back at the next level.
In his final collegiate season, he rushed for a career-best 20 touchdowns and 1,665 yards on 320 carries, good for an average of 5.2 yards per carry. By doing so, he set the Golden Gophers' all-time rushing record with 4,668 yards and 53 touchdowns.
Kudos to Holmes for finding the former Minnesota back after the draft.
Running back Mo Ibrahim
Jeff Hanisch, USA TODAY Sports
S Brandon Joseph
Just like Ibrahim, Joseph was expected to be taken at some point in this past April's draft.
In fact, he received a third-round grade from NFL Draft Bible prior to the draft.
After spending the first three years of his college career at Northwestern, Joseph suited up for 10 games in 2022 with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. He finished the campaign with 30 total tackles, an interception, a pass breakup, a quarterback hurry and a forced fumble.
According to NFL Draft Bible, "With good awareness, efficient footwork and a keen ability to be one step ahead of the QB, Joseph is able to erase mistakes on the back end and create turnovers. He’s a ball magnet due to being the smartest guy on defense, regularly pointing teammates in the right direction and correctly flowing in the direction of where the offense is attacking before they do so. Joseph is also a willing run supporter with a high motor to chase the ball all around the field and has quick processing skills when diagnosing motion, misdirection and option plays."
With the above skillset, Joseph could end up being a contributor to Detroit's secondary. It's why he certainly has a chance to make the Lions' 53-man roster out of training camp.
LB Isaac Darkangelo
I could've gone with the five-year college passer in Adrian Martinez here. But, instead I'm going with the hometown product in Darkangelo.
Darkangelo played his high school ball at Novi Detroit Catholic Central, and played his first two collegiate seasons at Northern Michigan of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
He transferred to Illinois in time for the 2020 season, but didn't play a single snap with the Fighting Illini until the following season.
Fast-forward to the 2022 campaign when he played in all 13 games, and made his first career start as an FBS player at The Big House against Michigan.
He sure made an impact in his final collegiate season, too. He produced 71 total tackles, including 7.5 for loss, along with one sack, four quarterback hurries and one fumble recovery.
Additionally, he played an integral role in Illinois becoming the nation's No. 1 scoring defense during the '22 season.
Everybody loves a good underdog story, and Darkangelo's story is the definition of just that.
The odds might not be in his favor of making the Lions out of training camp. However, I believe he at least has a chance, and everyone from Catholic Central and the metro Detroit area will certainly be rooting him on.
