The Detroit Lions like what they see in rookie Erick Hunter, enough to give the undrafted rookie linebacker a significant financial commitment.
The Lions went to work quickly after the NFL draft, signing players to fill roster holes on both sides of the ball and work toward their 90-man roster for training camp. While most will face an uphill battle to make the final roster, Hunter could have an advantage after securing an unusually large contract from the team.
Lions Give Six Figures to Erick Hunter
NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero reported that the Lions quickly signed the Morgan State linebacker after the draft ended on Sunday. HBCU scout Gerald J. Huggins added that the Lions already gave Hunter a big contract.
“Erick Hunter signed a 3-year, $3,125,000 contract with the Detroit Lions, including a $25,000 signing bonus, $175,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $1,041,667,” Huggins shared in a post on X.
NFL.com draft expert Lance Zierlein wrote that Hunter was a productive linebacker in college, though has some work ahead if he wants to succeed at the NFL level.
“Hunter’s productive 2025 season featured 102 tackles, including 14 for loss and four sacks,” Zierlein wrote. “He’s fast when he opens up and runs but can be a little leggy with his short-area movements. Hunter’s instincts and response quickness are a little below average and he’s not suited for third-down coverage duties at the next level. His athletic testing was outstanding and he can compete for a role on special teams, but he’ll need to show he can handle backup linebacker duties to have a chance of sticking on a roster.”
Despite the big financial commitment, Hunter will likely compete for a spot at the bottom of the roster or on the practice squad, though he may have some odds — and history — in his favor. The Lions had a 15-year streak of keeping at least one undrafted free agent on their final 53-man roster, though this came to an end in 2025.
Stakes Grow Higher for the Lions
Lions general manager Brad Holmes said the team was feeling greater pressure to nail the NFL draft after its disappointing 2025 season. An early favorite to win the NFC North, the Lions stumbled down the final stretch and missed the playoffs for the first time in three seasons.
Holmes told reporters this week that he had the disappointment on his mind amid the draft.
“Not making the playoffs. I had some other things that I’m not going to say,” Holmes said, via SI.com. “But, it was just a reminder that when the playoffs started, we were sitting at home watching.”
Holmes added that the team would need to take a deep look at the roster, making some difficult decisions in the coming months.
“Taking that hard, long look in the mirror and just looking at everything from top-to-bottom and saying, ‘Look, what can we do to do things better? What kind of tweaks and changes and adjustments.’ Those are the kinds of things that I was talking about at the end of the season when I said some of these adjustments might not come with the headlines,” Holmes said. “I wasn’t saying that we’re not going to sign a player, it wasn’t about that.
Lions Make Big Financial Commitment to Land Athletic Rookie LB