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New Lions defensive back Thomas Harper.
The Detroit Lions have acquired a little more help for their safety room to fill out the final spot on their 53-man roster heading into Week 1 of the 2025 season.
According to the team’s transaction wire, the Lions claimed second-year defensive back Thomas Harper off waivers from the Las Vegas Raiders on Friday, adding a versatile young player to their opening-day roster who is capable of playing multiple positions.
Harper made five starts and appeared in 15 games as a rookie for the Raiders in 2024, landing with the team off waivers after last year’s roster cutdown and fulfilling a depth role for their injury-battered secondary throughout the regular season. While he made the initial 53-man roster with the team coming out of this year’s camp, the Raiders put him on waivers Thursday after claiming safety Tristin McCollum from Philadelphia.
Now, the 24-year-old Harper will have a chance to play a depth role for the Lions.
The Lions will kick off their regular season on the road against the Green Bay Packers at 4:25 p.m. ET on Sunday, September 8.
Thomas Harper Made Plays in Limited Raiders Run
Harper got more experience than the average UDFA with the Raiders in 2024.
After spending the first two games inactive, Harper made his NFL debut in Week 3 and started to see a regular helping of special teams snaps. By Week 5, the Raiders felt good enough about him to start giving him a few defensive snaps every game, offering him a limited rotational role at free safety until he earned his first career start in Week 12.
From then on, Harper had a regular role for the Raiders defense, playing 15 or more defensive snaps in five of the final six games to close out the 2024 regular season.
He finished with 26 tackles, a half-sack, an interception, two pass deflections and a fumble recovery. According to Pro Football Focus, he also allowed just six receptions and an opposing passer rating of only 41.3 in coverage, earning top-15 grades overall (78.3) and as a coverage player (76.4) among the league’s 171 eligible safeties.
Harper won’t have an easy path to playing time in Detroit, with Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph both expected to play starring roles in the deep field for the Lions. Cornerbacks Avonte Maddox and Rock Ya-Sin are also capable of rotating in at the safety positions.
With the flexibility to slot the nickel role, Harper could eventually see the field with the Lions if he earns additional playing time through his special teams play.
Could Lions Make Another Signing Before Opener?
The Lions have now filled all of the vacant spots on their 53-man roster with Harper’s signing, but could another, more impactful signing be on the way before Week 1?
After the Packers traded for Micah Parsons on Thursday, the pressure has ramped up for the Lions to make another addition at edge rusher. They have Aidan Hutchinson as their top rusher off the edge and a potential bounce-back campaign in the making with veteran Marcus Davenport, but Josh Paschal’s injury leaves them with little depth.
To compensate, the Lions could take the advice of many analysts and fans and explore a new deal with veteran Za’Darius Smith, who registered four sacks in nine games with them in 2024 after they acquired him from the Cleveland Browns at the trade deadline. According to Over the Cap, the Lions have roughly $35 million in cap space available, giving them more than enough money to pay Smith — if they believe he can help.
Jordan J. Wilson is a sports reporter who covers the NFL and MLB for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers. He has previously covered all levels of sports — high school, college and pro — for a variety of publications including The Indianapolis Star, The News-Gazette, Springfield State-Journal Register and Peoria Journal Star. More about Jordan J. Wilson
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