The Detroit Lions lean on a growing USFL pipeline, reaping nine alumni in the latest roster snapshot — the most of any NFL club. Three Panthers alums anchor that group on the practice and depth charts: Jake Bates, D.J. Miller Jr., and Gunnar Oakes, with Bates already cemented as the starting kicker after a stellar 2024.

Bates’ 26 of 29 field goals, including multiple 50+ yarders, plus a record-setting 64 extra points, underpinned a 15-2 Lions campaign and a single-season points mark. That level of reliability makes Bates the clearest long-term kicker bet for Detroit in 2025, strengthening the team’s special-teams floor.

Miller Jr. arrived in August and faces an uphill roster battle, yet his 10-game UFL tape included two interceptions and nine pass breakups, highlighting playmaking versatility that could translate to a rotational role or a development path at corner.

Oakes, a seventh-round pick in 2023, brings replacement-te depth at tight end, especially if Sam LaPorta’s minor injury lingers. Even with competition around the position, the UFL experience gives him a tangible path to stick as depth behind Detroit’s core.

Beyond those three Panthers, the Lions roster lists other ex-USFLers such as Gunner Britton, Deon Jackson, Jacob Saylors, Steven Stilianos, Keaton Sutherland, and Nick Whiteside II, forming a broader imprint of Spring Football on Detroit. The Panthers’ offshoots aren’t limited to Detroit’s lines; other Panthers alumni across the NFL (Browns, Patriots, 49ers, Chargers) reflect the Panthers’ national footprint in the league. If Michigan Panthers depart Detroit, their impact persists at Ford Field through Bates’ security, Miller’s upside, and Stilianos’ All-UFL pedigree, offering fantasy managers and bettors a nuanced angle on 2025 roster-building.