Former Miami quarterback Brad Kaaya was recently cut by the Carolina Panthers and has now been picked up off waivers by the team that cut him at the beginning of the season. The Detroit Lions initially drafted him before cutting him and have now picked him up a second time.
The Lions wanted to add him to the practice squad before they cut him, but were unable to make that happen. Apparently the organization saw it as a big blow and was upset he didn't clear waivers when he was picked up by Carolina after they waived him. However, they made some moves to get him back this time around. Here's how the situation was ddescribed by the Detroit Free Press:
The Detroit Lions hoped they'd be able to sneak Brad Kaaya through waivers when they set their initial 53-man roster last month, and when they couldn't, they were crushed.
Given a second chance to acquire their sixth-round draft pick, the Lions jumped at the chance.
The Lions were awarded Kaaya off waivers from the Carolina Panthers on Wednesday, and now appear to be poised to carry three quarterbacks on their 53-man roster the rest of the season.
Kaaya, who was selected by Detroit in the sixth-round of the 2017 NFL Draft, was a casualty of the NFL's 53-man roster cut deadline, which isn't a surprise given the franchise's recent pricey investment in starting quarterback Matthew Stafford.
Entering his final season at Miami, Kaaya gained plenty of attention from NFL scouts and analysts, including Chris Burke of Sports Illustrated, who pegged the former Hurricane as the No. 1 overall pick in his mock draft back in May of 2016.
Here's what Burke said at the time. This was written before the 2016 season, mind you.
"There is no question that Deshaun Watson will be a Heisman favorite this season, off his brilliant 2015. There's also little question that, on paper, Kaaya—who is 6? 4? and plays in a pro-style scheme—better fits the NFL prototype."
Kaaya threw for 3,532 yards, 27 touchdowns and seven interceptions in 2016. Despite solid numbers, he fell to the later rounds of the draft and now needs to earn a spot on Carolina's roster behind Cam Newton and Derek Anderson.
Kaaya was 24-for-40 for 291 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception during the NFL preseason.
[h/t The Spun]
