Detroit Lions fill final roster spot, claiming former Raiders safety off waivers

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Allen Park — Then there were 53.

After trimming the team's initial roster to 50 before freeing up a fourth spot by shipping wide receiver Tim Patrick to Jacksonville for a 2026 draft pick, the Detroit Lions filled their final opening on Friday, claiming former Las Vegas Raiders safety Thomas Harper off waivers.

After going undrafted a year ago out of Notre Dame, via Oklahoma State, Harper initially signed with the Los Angeles Chargers. He appeared in two preseason games for the franchise, but was waived as part of the team’s final cuts.

Harper was one of 26 players claimed off waivers the following day, landing with the Raiders. He would go on to appear in 15 games, including five starts, as a rookie. He primarily saw defensive snaps at free safety, but the 5-foot-10, 195-pounder also logged reps in the slot, box and along the line of scrimmage.

In addition to his work on defense, Harper was also a top special teams contributor for the Raiders, earning 265 snaps across multiple units. He finished his debut campaign with 26 tackles, one interception, two pass defenses and a fumble recovery.

Harper spent his first four college seasons at Oklahoma State, where he played alongside his brother, Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Devin Harper. Thomas Harper later transferred to Notre Dame for his final college season, starting 10 games for the Irish in 2023.

At both Oklahoma State and Notre Dame, Harper played more slot cornerback. Coming out of school, he performed well during pre-draft testing, showcasing elite leaping ability and speed, posting a 4.49-second 40-yard dash.

Harper was cut by the Raiders on Thursday after the team claimed safety Tristin McCollum off waivers. Harper’s departure was the latest of several changes the team has made in the secondary this offseason, reshaping the unit to fit new head coach Pete Carroll's preferences.

Harper adds depth behind Detroit’s starting tandem of Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph, joining another recent addition, former Jaguars special teams standout Daniel Thomas. Detroit also has versatile veterans Rock Ya-Sin and Avonte Maddox in the mix, with that pair both splitting time between cornerback and safety this offseason.