rtainly a minority in that I love special teams. Punting is one of my favorite

Every year leading up to the draft Kerryon Johnson Jersey , fans will have their school favorites that they believe the Lions should draft. If it’s players from Michigan or Michigan State, then you’ll probably have to hear it a lot around these parts (i.e. drafting Connor Cook to replace Stafford, trading up for Jabrill Peppers, etc.). The hard part is making that transition from college football season to the NFL offseason and moving past the blind homerism while finding legitimate fits for the Lions.Even as a Michigan State fan myself, it’s difficult to ignore the talent that Michigan football produces, and one talent that is especially difficult not to recognize as a legitimate fit for the Lions is defensive tackle/edge rusher, Rashan Gary.Rashan Gary, EDGE, Michigan6-foot-5, 283 pounds2016 stats: 12 games | 12 solo tackles | 23 total | 5.0 TFL | 0.5 sacks2017 stats: 13 games | 25 solo tackles | 58 total | 11.5 TFL | 5.5 sacks | 1 FF2018 stats: 9 games | 20 solo tackles | 38 total | 6.5 TFL | 3.5 sacksCurrent draft projection: First or second roundBackgroundTeam profile pageGary was a highly-touted recruit, receiving the No. 1 ranking in the 2016 class from multiple recruitment sites and received offers from basically every top school you can think of. On the defensive line, Gary started 21 of 34 career games as a defensive end, but was moved all over the line and did some of his work as a 3-tech for the Wolverines as well. Gary never truly lived up to his hype if you look at the stat sheet Womens A'Shawn Robinson Jersey , but with his athleticism and skillset, you can almost guarantee that he will be highly coveted by NFL teams, regardless.StrengthsVersatile and has lined up all over the defensive line. Will be listed as a DT or EDGE depending on who you ask.Very gifted athletically. Should test elite whether you think he’s an edge rusher or an interior lineman. Traits have me believing he’s better suited on the edge.Raw power and play strength is off the charts. Controls point of attack well and sets the edge nicely in the run game. When asked to attack, has shown a nice first step with great explosiveness. Closes gaps quickly and doesn’t give quarterback any breathing roomUnderrated bend and flexibility; has shown the ability to turn the corner with good ankle flexion and decent dip.Not one to give up on plays and exhibits insane amount of effort and motor through the whistle. Can be special if he can pair that with actual hand technique. WeaknessesVery raw still and relies too heavily on sheer athleticism and talent rather than technique and fundamentals.Hand usage is mostly non-existent and needs a ton of work. Struggled often to disengage despite his best efforts.Hasn’t developed any counter moves and lack of agility/change of direction may hinder his ability to set up an effective inside move.Occasionally late off the snap. Not entirely sure if that has to do with lack of snap anticipation or something he was asked to do, but it showed up often.Games watched: 2017 vs. Wisconsin, 2017 vs. Indiana, 2018 vs. Penn State, 2018 vs. Ohio StateOverview and ProjectionIn terms of projection, Gary’s stock is all over the place, and you have just about as many projecting him as a top-five pick as you do bottom-five in the first round or out of the first round entirely. My belief is that NFL teams are going to fall in love with a prospect like Gary if they haven’t already, and if the Lions want him, they’re going to have to draft him at eighth overall. At this point in time, I find it very unlikely that Gary will make it past the top-10.Gary sets the edge well in the run game http://www.lionslockerroom.com/authentic-anthony-zettel-jersey , has underrated bend/flexibility and has a ton of room to grow as a pass rusher. Some teams may list Gary as an interior D-lineman while others have him as an edge rusher, and he may end up playing both spots wherever he goes, but I believe he is best suited as an EDGE for his primary role. For the Lions, Gary is a nice fit and makes a lot of sense to fill the down DE role, with the ability to kick inside as a 3-tech if needed. Patricia and his staff have shown that they can untap the potential of raw, athletic DL (see: Da’Shawn Hand) and turn them into immediate contributors, and three years down the road, I could see Gary turning into an All-Pro lineman. With a roster full of young, lovable stars, which one is your favorite?" NFL Open ThreadsSunday open thread: Who’s your favorite player currently on the Detroit Lions?New,81commentsWith a roster full of young, lovable stars, which one is your favorite?EDTShare this storyShare this on FacebookShare this on TwitterShareAll sharing optionsShareAll sharing options for:Sunday open thread: Who’s your favorite player currently on the Detroit Lions?TwitterFacebookRedditPocketFlipboardEmailPhoto by Stacy Revere/Getty ImagesWhile 2018 didn’t amount to all that Lions fans wanted it to Jake Rudock Jersey White , it sure was fun. The Lions had plenty of tricks up their sleeves throughout the season, providing moments like a Taylor Decker touchdown reception and a Matt Prater touchdown pass. Fun on the field—and of course, winning, brings out the best in players and shows us just how fun and lovable they can be. With plenty of young draftees, free agent signings, and budding stars, there’s plenty of reasons to love certain players. Question of the day: Who’s your favorite player currently on the Detroit Lions?My answer: Sam Martin. Before you heckle me because ‘punters are no fun’, I’m certainly a minority in that I love special teams. Punting is one of my favorite parts of the game, and Sam Martin, in particular, always seems like he’s having a good time on and off the field. Just look at the cover photo for this article—that’s the kind of enthusiasm that shines a light on underappreciated players like punters and linemen. Who’s your favorite player on the roster right now? Let us know in the comments. Tweets from https://twitter.com/PrideOfDetroit/lists/lions-coverage