The 2025 NFL Draft is just days away, and all Detroit Lions fans are on their toes waiting for some possible contract news. Of course, they're thinking about Aidan Hutchinson, Jameson Williams, or Kerby Joseph. With that on fans' brains, the Lions snuck in a signing. They will be bringing back offensive lineman Michael Niese.
The Lions picked up Niese in August of 2023 after the Buccaneers released him at cutdown time. He spent almost the entire 2023 season on the practice squad, except for the Week 11 win over the Bears, in which he was active but did not play.
Over the summer going into the 2024 season, the Lions spent a lot of time working Niese at center and even got to work with the first team on occasions, too. He primarily played right guard outside of that, and he showed up in the preseason. The Lions really liked what they saw because he spent the entire 2024 season on the 53-man roster.
He got to play a little bit during the season, and the Linos played him at center and right guard. All four times he played were during blowout wins. Bringing him back shows the Lions see something there with him.
Particularly, they might see him as someone who can take on that Graham Glasgow or Evan Brown role. A guy who can function anywhere on the interior of the line and who can come in at center, specifically if Frank Ragnow has to miss any time. That prevents the Lions from having to shuffle the offensive line around too much.
We'll see what they do with him at camp, but don't be surprised if he competes and lands a big role in 2025.
