Detroit Lions bringing 2 local QBs to rookie camp this weekend on tryout basis
The Detroit Lions did not sign a quarterback as part of their undrafted free agent class, but they will have two state-of-Michigan products in rookie camp competing for jobs this weekend.
The Lions are bringing quarterbacks Theo Day of Northern Iowa and Cade Peterson of Grand Valley State to camp on a tryout basis.
Rookie camp runs Friday-Sunday in Allen Park.
Day, who attended Dearborn Divine Child and originally signed with Michigan State out of high school, was one of two quarterbacks who attended the Lions' local day workout last month along with Illinois' John Paddock. He said at the time playing for the Lions, alongside former high school teammate Aidan Hutchinson, would be a dream come true.
"That would be awesome, in all honesty," Day said. "Just because the support, all my friends and their families and all that, knowing what the Lions have around here and then Aidan being there, and then when you combine that just with the coaches that they have and what they did last year, it would be awesome."
A three-year starter at Northern Iowa, Day led the Panthers to the FCS playoffs in 2021, was a first-team All-Missouri Valley Conference selection in 2022 and finished his career with 8,276 yards passing, 58 touchdowns and 32 interceptions.
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He's a strong-armed pocket passer who completed 61% of his passes in his college career.
Peterson, the two-time GLIAC Offensive Player of the Year, threw for 7,231 yards with 67 touchdowns and had 1,686 yards rushing in his six-year career.
The mobile quarterback led the GLIAC in passing touchdowns (18), total offense (214.3 ypg), and yards per attempt (9.34) last season when Grand Valley went 11-2 and advanced to the Division II quarterfinals.
He told the Traverse City Record-Eagle it is "surreal" to have an opportunity with the Lions.
"I watched the Lions my whole life,” Peterson, a Maple City Glen Lake product, told the paper.
The Lions are expected to sign an undrafted rookie class of about 15 players this week. They currently have 71 players, including six draft picks and quarterbacks Jared Goff, Hendon Hooker and Nate Sudfeld, on their 90-man roster.
Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on X and Instagram at @davebirkett.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions bringing 2 QBs to rookie camp for tryout this weekend
