Tag: Isaac Darkangelo

Lions waive rookie LB Isaac Darkangelo

The Lions waived undrafted rookie LB Isaac Darkangelo after signing OL Germain Ifedi

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When the Detroit Lions added veteran offensive lineman Germain Ifedi on Tuesday, it pushed the team beyond the 90-man roster limit. So when Ifedi officially signed his contract on Wednesday, it meant someone had to go to make room.

The player losing out on the roster musical chairs is rookie linebacker Isaac Darkangelo. The undrafted LB from Illinois was released.

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Releasing Darkangleo leaves the Lions with seven off-ball linebackers. That total includes undrafted rookie Trevor Nowaske from Saginaw Valley State, who is hoping to make some noise in this week’s OTA sessions and the upcoming mandatory minicamp. Detroit typically only plays two off-ball LBs in the base defense and played with just one on the field more than it played with three in both 2021 and 2022.

Lions UDFA profile: Illinois LB Isaac Darkangelo

Profiling Detroit Lions undrafted rookie LB Isaac Darkangelo from Illinois and his chances to make the team

One of the undrafted free agent rookies hoping to make some noise in the upcoming Lions rookie minicamp is linebacker Isaac Darkangelo. The Illinois LB signed with Detroit after not hearing his name called in the 2023 NFL draft.

Darkangelo does have some things to offer the Lions. A Detroit native (Central Catholic HS), Darkangelo’s highlights from Illinois can easily be mistaken for Malcolm Rodriguez, the Lions’ sixth-rounder from a year ago who saw considerable playing time as a rookie.

Like Rodriguez, Darkangelo is short and compactly built at a hair over 6′ and 227 muscular pounds. He’s got outstanding instincts and tackling power in run defense. An Academic All-American, his play processing is one step ahead of many peers, and he’s got an outstanding initial burst to the ball.

Also like “Rodrigo,” he’s got the underdog card to play. Darkangelo began his career at D-II Northern Michigan. He transferred to the Illini as a preferred walk-on. He emerged as Illinois’ leading tackler and defensive spirit animal in 2022. Much like Rodriguez, he’s much better moving forward and attacking than trailing after receiving targets in space, and Darkangelo will need to fit through the traffic trash better if he’s to stick in Detroit.

The Lions do have a need for a depth LB who can excel on special teams. That’s likely Darkangelo’s shot at making it through the summer in Detroit.

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Detroit Lions 2023 undrafted free agent tracker

Tracking all the undrafted free agent signed by the Detroit Lions after the 2023 NFL draft

The 2023 NFL draft might be over, but the Detroit Lions are not done adding players. Prospects who went undrafted during the seven rounds are now free to sign with any team.

Detroit GM Brad Holmes has typically been one of the most aggressive in signing undrafted free agents, or UDFAs.

Here are the players the Lions have either signed as undrafted free agents or invited to the rookie minicamp for an in-person audition. Some reported signings are subject to change.