Thru two weeks of organized group activities, the Detroit Lions are beginning to reach collectively.
Dan Campbell‘s group is gentle without some veterans all the plan in which by the voluntary workout routines, however quite rather a lot of gamers are getting key reps in in consequence. Detroit is discovering out what it has, and younger gamers are getting their shot to computer screen their mettle to the coaching workers earlier than practicing camp.
Listed below are three Lions whose stock is rising after two weeks of OTAs, and three Lions whose stock is falling.
Inventory up
CB Terrion Arnold
Arnold made a case for play of the day Thursday with his interception of Jared Goff. The throw was once no longer poorly positioned by any capability, however moderately the rookie correct ripped the ball out of the hands of Jameson Williams and took it the diverse plan.
The Alabama product gentle has quite rather a lot of rising to provide, however looks to receive the mental fortitude required to play his feature at a excessive level within the NFL. His energy is vivid, and he has the persona to enable him to bounce help from disturbing performs.
Arnold will face competitors for starter snaps, however appears to be like to receive every the potential and the mentaility to actual a stammer. It be gentle early within the offseason, however he looks appropriate at dwelling in Aaron Glenn’s defense.
WR Kalif Raymond
With the questions surrounding the Lions‘ wide receiving corps, there would possibly maybe be room for a darkhorse candidate to emerge. Raymond, on the opposite hand, figures to be a dependable part of Detroit’s offense.
Raymond has quite rather a lot of journey working as a secondary choice for Jared Goff, and this being his fourth season with the group helps his case to play a bigger feature within the offense.
The veteran poke-catcher had a resounding day at Thursday’s commence observe. Additionally, any other participant to defend up an detect on is Daurice Fountain, who regarded correct with Hendon Hooker at Thursday’s session.
LB Mitchell Agude
One other intriguing participant who would possibly maybe maybe scramble beneath the radar is Agude. Signed to the Lions‘ observe squad in September ultimate year, he was once in practicing camp with the Miami Dolphins in 2023. This capability that, the Lions will receive their first full gape at him this season.
With James Houston out of action Thursday, Agude received more reps with the defense. He has a identical, poke-bound oriented potential dwelling to Houston and would possibly maybe maybe line up in Detroit’s SAM linebacker feature. Agude had some correct poke-bound wins in his work on Thursday and figures to be an intriguing practicing camp participant.
Inventory Down
CB Kindle Vildor
With the Lions’ revamped secondary, Vildor’s feature at the discontinuance of the season can also merely no longer be on hand for the taking in 2024. He started every of the Lions‘ playoff games and was once on the wicked discontinuance of a sport-altering play within the NFC Championship sport, however equipped some veteran balance down the stretch.
Vildor was once beat for a touchdown by Jameson Williams in Thursday’s observe and faces an uphill fight to receive excessive-caliber snaps. For the veteran, a resounding practicing camp would possibly maybe well be needed as he looks to fight for a key feature internal Detroit’s defense.
DL Levi Onwuzurike
Onwuzurike goes by a make-or-spoil practicing camp heading into the final year of his rookie contract. He has largely underperformed as a 2021 2nd-round opt, as injuries and inconsistency receive restricted his impact.
The Lions moreover added depth to the line of defense this offseason, as DJ Reader would possibly maybe maybe be doubtlessly the most well-known nose kind out and Mekhi Wingo is within the mix as the rotational defensive kind out. With Brodric Martin moreover rising, Onwuzurike will face sturdy competitors as he looks to make an impact in 2024.
RB Jermar Jefferson
With the Lions drafting Sione Vaki and Craig Reynolds conserving an organization take hang of on the group’s third operating help feature, Jefferson faces a disturbing stretch to work his plan onto Detroit’s roster.
Coming into his fourth NFL season, Jefferson has struggled to receive consistent footing with Detroit. His finest stretch got here in his rookie year, where he showed sturdy probably earlier than suffering a season-ending distress.
In the two seasons since, he has been filled with life for correct one sport while spending many of the last observe two years on the observe squad.
