The Detroit Lions are making an early move to bolster their tight end depth, reportedly signing free agent Thomas Gordon to a futures deal. It’s a low-risk, developmental swing that could quietly pay off down the line-especially with the team potentially shifting its offensive identity under new coordinator Drew Petzing.
Gordon’s path to Detroit has been anything but conventional. The former Northwestern Wildcat spent part of his rookie season in 2025 with the Chicago Bears.
After signing in August, he didn’t crack the 53-man roster but landed on the practice squad in December. Once the season wrapped, Chicago opted not to bring him back on a futures contract-opening the door for the Lions to take a flyer.
Before his brief stint in the NFL, Gordon had a cup of coffee with the UFL’s San Antonio Brahmas, where he appeared in just one game and didn’t record any stats. While that chapter didn’t offer much in terms of production, it did give him a taste of the pro game.
Gordon's college résumé is where you start to see the foundation of what the Lions might be betting on. At Northwestern, he was a steady presence over six seasons, appearing in 54 games and starting 18.
While he never lit up the stat sheet, his final year saw him post 27 catches for 252 yards and a touchdown. Those aren’t eye-popping numbers, but they do show a player who can contribute when called upon-especially in a system that values tight ends who can do the dirty work.
At 6-foot-5 and 255 pounds, Gordon fits the mold of a blocking-first tight end. That size and physicality could make him a natural fit in heavier personnel groupings, particularly if the Lions lean into more 13 personnel looks under Petzing.
That’s been a talking point around Detroit this offseason, and it makes sense. With only three tight ends-Sam LaPorta, Brock Wright, and Zach Horton-currently under contract for 2026, the Lions are likely to explore a few options to round out the room.
Gordon isn’t walking into a guaranteed role, but he doesn’t need to. Futures deals are all about upside and potential, and for a team that may be reimagining how it uses its tight ends, bringing in a developmental prospect with Gordon’s frame and experience is a smart, forward-thinking move. He’ll have the offseason to prove he belongs, and with the Lions possibly expanding their tight end usage, the opportunity is there.