The Detroit Lions have added the final player to their initial 53-man roster for the 2025 season, claiming safety Thomas Harper off waivers from the Las Vegas Raiders.
Harper played for four seasons at Oklahoma State before transferring to Notre Dame in 2023 for his 5th collegiate season. He would go undrafted in the 2024 NFL Draft and would sign with the Los Angeles Chargers, but was released at cutdowns and claimed off waivers by the Raiders. During his rookie season, Thomas played in 15 games—started in five (191 snaps on defense)—and recorded 26 tackles, two pass deflections, an interception, and a half sack. He recorded an overall grade of 78.3 from PFF, including a 76.4 coverage grade. On special teams, he was a five-phase special teamer, recording 264 special teams snaps on kick coverage/return, punt coverage/return, and field goal/extra point block teams.
While primarily a deep free safety, Harper has the range to cover out of the slot and drop down into the box—these are all key traits the Lions look for in their safeties. When their defensive backs are interchangeable weapons, it prevents their secondary from getting caught out of position. As his PFF grade indicates, Harper is an intense man-coverage option in the secondary, but he is also a tenacious run defender. He’s still a developing prospect, but with 4.49 speed and explosiveness (42-inch vertical jump), there are traits to work with.
Harper will join the Lions as the fourth member of a safeties group, which features All-Pro Kerby Joseph and Pro Bowler Brian Branch as starters, newly signed Daniel Thomas in a reserve role, and Loren Strickland on the practice squad. The Lions also spent the majority of training camp cross-training Avonte Maddox at safety and in the slot, as well as Rock Ya-Sin at safety and outside corner for additional depth.
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