The Detroit Lions are reportedly signing a rookie minicamp tryout who spent last year with the Michigan Panthers and Arizona Cardinals.
According to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, the Detroit Lions are signing wide receiver Kaden Davis to their 90-man roster . Davis was with the team this weekend as part of their rookie minicamp tryout squad. He was notably the intended receiver on a pass that was picked off by Lions first-round pick Terrion Arnold. Davis initially beats Arnold on the crosser, but as the play breaks down, he couldn’t break free on a downfield route.
1st pick for Agent 0️⃣ @ArnoldTerrion pic.twitter.com/shYi3DQG0N
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) May 11, 2024
Davis entered the league in 2022 as an undrafted receiver out of Northwest Missouri State. He spent his rookie season on and off the Denver Broncos practice squad but was far more active in 2023. First, he was part of the Michigan Panthers team, playing in five games at the USFL level. As the primary kickoff returner, Davis totaled 311 yards on 12 attempts (25.9 average), while also adding eight catches for 83 years.
After the USFL season was over, Davis joined the Arizona Cardinals . He spent the entire season on their practice squad but was elevated for one game in December (although he did not end up making it on the field). In the preseason, though, Davis caught eight passes for 73 yards and a touchdown, while also adding 27 yards on two punt returns.
Davis is a solid athlete, earning a 8.34 RAS score with a solid 4.44 40-yard dash and an impressive 1.52 10-yard split.
Kaden Davis is a WR prospect in the 2022 draft class. He scored a 8.34 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 464 out of 2786 WR from 1987 to 2022. https://t.co/ne3HpH1G02 #RAS #UDFA https://t.co/CWhYkRsyyh pic.twitter.com/1hoHC8KYm7
— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) May 1, 2022
Last listed at 6-foot-1, 190 pounds, Davis brings some inside-outside versatility, but his route to the 53-man roster will be a difficult one. Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams are solidified starters. While Kalif Raymond, Donovan Peoples-Jones, and Antoine Green figure to be the primary depth .
After that, there will likely only be a spot or two left on the 53-man roster for the likes of veterans Maurice Alexander and Tom Kennedy to battle it out with Davis and undrafted rookies Isaiah Williams and Jalon Calhoun .
That said, the Lions are still in search of a full-time kickoff returner, and that could give Davis a leg up on the competition.
Once this signing is official, the Lions will have 89 players on their roster.