Deonte Gibson agrees to deal with Detroit Lions as undrafted free agent

Former Northwestern defensive end Deonte Gibson has agreed to sign with the Detroit Lions as an undrafted free agent, Gibson confirmed to Inside NU Saturday.

Gibson had a standout senior season, registering a team-leading 9 sacks. With the emergence of Dean Lowry on the other side, Gibson often got — and won — single teams. When he was doubled, Lowry was often wreaking havoc. As a senior, he nearly equaled his tackle total from his first three years, and he held up very well against the run.

Gibson, though, weighed in at 261 pounds at his Pro Day, meaning he is likely destined to be an outside linebacker in the NFL. He ran an impressive 4.68 40-yard dash, so he has the straight-line speed to make the transition. The questions will be how quickly he can pick up the nuances of the position — coverage and coverage packages — and if he can overcome a relative lack of height. He measured at just 6-foot-1 at Northwestern's Pro Day.

Gibson evolved into a team leader both on and off the field his senior year and put up impressive numbers. He'll now hope to make a seamless transition to linebacker and earn a spot with the Lions.

For more on Gibson, here's our scouting report on him, and here are highlights from his absolutely dominant day against Wisconsin.