An undrafted corner who bounced between the NFL and UFL is suddenly making a serious case for a roster spot and Nick Whiteside may be one of Detroit’s biggest camp surprises.
Throughout training camp and the preseason, you may have heard the name Nick Whiteside. Whiteside has been one of the most notable players in Detroit’s camp, consistently making plays and climbing the depth chart.
What initially looked like a battle to simply make the 53-man roster has quickly turned into a much more comfortable position for Whiteside, who appears to have earned himself a legitimate spot on the team.
But who is Nick Whiteside, and where did he come from?
Whiteside was a cornerback at Saginaw Valley State who went undrafted in the 2023 NFL Draft. He signed with the Washington Commanders for the 2023 season, spending time on their practice squad and appearing in two games.
Before the 2024 season, Whiteside was released by Washington and took his talents to the UFL, where he played for the St. Louis Battlehawks. He appeared in 11 games and recorded four pass breakups, ultimately catching the attention of the Detroit Lions.
During the 2025 season, Whiteside joined Detroit on a one-year deal with a base salary of $840,000. He appeared in nine games for the Lions, recording three pass deflections and five total tackles.
Whiteside also posted an impressive 83.0 overall PFF defensive grade during the 2025 season, including an 88.3 coverage grade. His run-defense grade was 51.0, and he allowed an 85.0 passer rating when targeted.
Despite seeing just 51 defensive snaps last season, Whiteside did enough to earn himself a one-year, $1.005 million contract extension with Detroit.
Now, Whiteside currently sits as the Lions’ No. 3 cornerback on the unofficial depth chart behind D.J. Reed.
Whiteside also made an impact in Detroit’s preseason opener against the Cincinnati Bengals. He recorded one pass deflection and one tackle while playing 33 snaps. He finished with a 75.4 PFF grade, which ranked fifth among Lions defensive players in the game.
With Whiteside continuing to make plays, I would expect him to receive even more opportunities throughout the final two preseason games. However, he is currently dealing with a minor hamstring injury.
Dan Campbell did not appear overly concerned when he announced the injury Monday, so hopefully Whiteside will be back on the field soon.
For a player who went undrafted in 2023 and spent time on a practice squad and in the UFL, Whiteside has come a long way. If he continues making plays at the rate we’ve seen throughout training camp, he could become one of the more intriguing young players on Detroit’s defense heading into the 2026 season.
