The Lions are reportedly set to sign an offensive lineman out of the UFL.
After losing guard Netane Muti to a serious shoulder injury during Tuesday’s practice, the Detroit Lions are set to add a new offensive lineman. According to James Larsen of Pro Football Network and confirmed by Tony Paul of the Detroit News, the Lions plan to sign offensive lineman Jake Burton.
Last season, Burton appeared in 11 games for the Panthers, playing solely at left guard and achieving top-10 Pro Football grades among UFL guards in both overall performance (64.6, seventh) and pass blocking (74.6, eighth). Before that, he spent two years with the Philadelphia Stars in the USFL, where he played right guard, right tackle, and occasionally left tackle. Notably, both the Panthers and the Stars played their home games at Ford Field in Detroit.
The Lions had previously brought Burton in for a workout on the same day as newly signed Ike Boettger, indicating they had him in mind as a potential option for depth during training camp. Additionally, rookie guard Christian Mahogany is currently sidelined with an illness and does not have a clear return date.
Jake Burton has a tie to the Lions’ coaching staff
New Lions OL Jake Burton:
• 2023 Michigan Panthers
– 64.6 PFF Overall Grade (7th UFL OGs)
– 74.6 Pass Block (8th)
• 2022 Philadelphia Stars (USFL)
• 2020 Baylor
– 74.5 Pass Block (10th Big 12 OGs)
• 2019 UCLA
– 79.3 Overall (7th Pac-12 OTs, Sewell 1st)
– Hank Fraley OL Coach https://t.co/JUUoR4prNA— Al Karsten (@FootballGuy_Al) July 31, 2024
Jake Burton spent four years of his college career (2016-2019) at UCLA before transferring to Baylor for his final year in 2020. At UCLA in 2017, he overlapped with Lions offensive line coach Hank Fraley.
Burton signed with the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent in 2021, but he didn’t make the final roster. The USFL provided him with a chance to play with the Philadelphia Stars in 2022 and 2023, before that league merged with the XFL to form the UFL in 2024.
While Burton is likely to be considered a camp body with slim chances of making the Lions’ 53-man roster, his versatility adds a bit more intrigue. He has experience at nearly every position on the offensive line, except center, dating back to his college career, making him a more interesting addition than a typical depth signing at this point in training camp.
