The Detroit Lions just made their first external move since slicing their roster to 53 players, signing former Tampa Bay offensive lineman Elijah Klein to their practice squad. This isn’t just a random name, folks. Klein’s journey through the trenches has been a wild one, and it’s got Detroit fans buzzing about what’s next for their depth.
Klein’s Versatility Is No Joke, But His Grades Tell A Story
Klein was a late sixth-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft for the Buccaneers, just 10 picks after the Lions snagged their own starter, Christian Mahogany. Over his two seasons in Tampa, Klein saw action in 26 games but only managed one single start. Why the lack of starts? Well, the Bucs kept him on a carousel, trying him out everywhere. In his rookie preseason, he split snaps at left guard, right guard, and right tackle. Then, in 2025’s preseason, he went primarily to center, also logging time at left and right guard. This past preseason? Back to left guard, right guard, and right tackle. The guy’s played everywhere, showing an insane level of versatility.
His one NFL start last season, a Week 3 clash against the New York Jets, saw him play 72 snaps. While he graded out fantastically as a pass blocker with a 79.0 PFF grade, his run game performance was a different story, earning just a 32.4 grade. This preseason, his performance literally bounced all over the field depending on where he lined up. He crushed it at left guard in Week 1 with a 74.2 grade, was decent at right guard and right tackle in Week 2 with a 64.0, but then really struggled solely at right tackle in the Week 3 finale, allowing three pressures and two sacks over 35 snaps. Talk about a mixed bag.
Where Does He Fit With Detroit’s Offensive Line?
So, what does this mean for the Lions’ depth chart? Beyond their five projected starters, Detroit already has Larry Borom at offensive tackle, Seth McLaughlin as their backup center, Ben Bartch at reserve guard, and Miles Frazier as a utility lineman. On the practice squad, they’ve got guard Mason Miller and tackle Devin Cochran. The Lions are clearly looking for options, and Klein’s history makes him an interesting piece.
Even with his incredible versatility, it looks like Klein’s best fit is probably on the interior of the line. But here’s the kicker: the Lions are actually a bit thinner at tackle right now. It’ll be super interesting to watch what the Lions have in store for him and how they try to deploy him once he’s officially signed and gets into the building. Keep your eyes peeled, because a practice squad signing like this could be a big deal for depth down the stretch.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pride of Detroit.
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