This screams kickoff return specialist to me. Lions love being innovative, and they wanna take full advantage of the new rule. He's the perfect archetype imo
No need to be a condescending prick, bro.
I know about the new kick off rule, what I'm asking about is why you think this guy would be a benefit under it.
Because it's more about vision and power (like a running back) as opposed to vision and speed. I predict more running back-esque returners instead of speedy WR returners.
People are just mad cuz it didn't fit their mock drafts lol. This guy is an outstanding player and Holmes went and got his guy. I'll trust Holmes who is paid to do this than so called "experts". Trust in Brad and never criticize him.
The team came out and said they want him on offense and Brian Branch will be playing a lot of safety I imagine. He’s arguably a better free safety than a starback/ nickel
Not to mention, his inaccurate throws to the plate. I remember one game in particular where he was playing in the outfield and threw the ball to home and it landed about four rows up in the stands. He was a nightmare in my book
He's a safety who used to play wr as well. Guarantee he will take snaps at wr before he takes snaps at rb. Doubt we have room for a 4th string running back taking snaps
I think hes a rb.
KR is going to be more important, and he doesn't fit the analytical prototype for saftey.
They cut the fb position and i think they carry 4 rb as insurance.
I dont think he was the best saftey on the board or the best rb on the board.
Obviously I trust holmes over my self.
I will say this is really interesting in regards to the new kick of rules. And he definitely fits the football player label holmes loves.
His measurables leave something to be desired, but having watched him in college, I can definitely say that he's the kind of player that's a huge pain in the ass to play against. He also has a rent free residence in Caleb's head
Put him in the dirt a few times, and Utah in general was the defense he struggled most against by far. There was also the incident of Caleb writing 'FUCK UTAH' on his fingers only to go in and get wrecked by vaki and co
I mean I wouldn’t expect to find the best safety on the board or the best RB in the 4th round in the first place.
Holmes is just getting himself another football player, doesn’t have to be the best to contribute
In trying to come up with a good nickname for the Gibbs and Monty duo, my friends kept trying to make Team Ramrod work. I feel like a Vaki/Rodrigo package would definitely be team Ramrod.
I’d spend a third on a mountainous athletic freak if I could let him learn from Fraley and Sewell for two years. I don’t care if lesson one consists of “This is a football.”
We gave up this year's third to move up. We only really gave up a 4th next year for him. We swapped 164 to move up to 132, and 201 to move down to 210. Then we traded a 2025 fourth round pick.
Brad gets his guys and he doesn’t care what your board says. He doesn’t care what Kiper’s board says or PFF’s either.
But every year, there are cries of “He could have gotten him a round or two later.” You don’t know that and neither does Mel Kiper.
Yeah, every year there are plenty of guys that the “experts” are down on that the GMs and coaches love, and vice versa. According to the experts, the Lions had two big time reaches and two big time steals, which I think just goes to show how far off they can be in their evaluations sometimes.
Everything I’ve read about this guy leading up to the draft screamed Brad Holmes type player. Not sure of his physical skills but he sounds very much like an Amon-Ra type.
Lions fan living in Utah and a big Utes fan. This guy is unreal. Every time we had an injury, he showed up playing in that position and dominated. As a safety he regularly was in on every tackle and is a solid hitter. As a running back, he is shifty and stout. Was easily my favorite player on last years roster. I'm over the moon that he is a Lion now!
Used to go to grade school with this guy and all I have to say are good things about this guy, you guys are getting a great asset but an even better character, class act.
We really only have Joseph and Ify after Tracy Walker was released, and Joseph just had surgery. I know Branch can play S but we need him for Nickel. I'm ok with depth at a position that was hurt all last year
Brad doesn’t draft based on position, he’s said it quite a few times
He said he addresses needs during FA so that he’s free to draft BPA for the whole draft
I mean he clearly factored in needs this draft.
Either Brad or Dan (don’t remember which) mentioned having branch play safety more.
Which would leave a likely combo of Robertson/Rakestraw in the slot
He plays S and RB.
I bet they involve him in the passing game and kickoff returns.
He interviewed with Ben Johnson about exactly that apparently
BJ got his guy!
Kinda need a guy for a BJ, no?
That's not the way I like them but to each his own
This screams kickoff return specialist to me. Lions love being innovative, and they wanna take full advantage of the new rule. He's the perfect archetype imo
What the new rule have to do with this? There's was so much chatter about changing kick offs that I missed whatever you're talking about.
It's better if you Google it
No need to be a condescending prick, bro. I know about the new kick off rule, what I'm asking about is why you think this guy would be a benefit under it.
Because it's more about vision and power (like a running back) as opposed to vision and speed. I predict more running back-esque returners instead of speedy WR returners.
Why they doing that?
"Safety" but also to keep kick returns as potential dynamic game changing plays
The new Jamal Agnew
Sounds like a Harbaugh guy
He’s playing Offense in Detroit. Probably special teams too. Our secondary is too stacked for him to get in there
People are just mad cuz it didn't fit their mock drafts lol. This guy is an outstanding player and Holmes went and got his guy. I'll trust Holmes who is paid to do this than so called "experts". Trust in Brad and never criticize him.
He can be our RB/S/PR/QB/TE/WR/CB/DL/DT/FB/OL/OLB/C/G - basically a fill-in for any injuries.
We have a lot of DBs, but we don't have any really good safeties. Not saying this guy is really good, but I wouldn't write him off from the jump.
The team came out and said they want him on offense and Brian Branch will be playing a lot of safety I imagine. He’s arguably a better free safety than a starback/ nickel
That last sentence is bonkers. He's much much better at nickelback than safety.
Vaki screamed Lions to me the moment I heard he could play all 3 phases. Literal depth at 3 positions lol.
The tigers had Rayburn during their world series run, we now have Vaki
How did I forget about Ryan Raburn already lol?
He’s our Don Kelly!
Our Brandon Inge!
God no
Inge with a glove in his hand was a stud. But then he had to bat...
Hopefully he avoids botching things like Rayburn often did. Poor guy
Rayburn the rally killer, hated seeing that dude step to the plate...
Not to mention, his inaccurate throws to the plate. I remember one game in particular where he was playing in the outfield and threw the ball to home and it landed about four rows up in the stands. He was a nightmare in my book
What did I do wrong today to make the universe remind me of him playing second base?
Ryan Rayburn was a bad players
I wonder if they are thinking kick returner for him
Position: Football Guy
Looks like they picked him as a RB
They selected him as an asset
He may be listed as a rb but he’s a safety.
He's a safety who used to play wr as well. Guarantee he will take snaps at wr before he takes snaps at rb. Doubt we have room for a 4th string running back taking snaps
Agree but it is nice to have the emergency option in case of disaster. Depth through redundancy.
I think hes a rb. KR is going to be more important, and he doesn't fit the analytical prototype for saftey. They cut the fb position and i think they carry 4 rb as insurance.
RBs are cheap, so maybe it's a future cost-cutting strategy.
He has played WR, RB, S, Punt returner and Slot Corner in his college career. That's a debth piece on many positions
Detroit's next Don Kelly
Andrew Romaine
I dont think he was the best saftey on the board or the best rb on the board. Obviously I trust holmes over my self. I will say this is really interesting in regards to the new kick of rules. And he definitely fits the football player label holmes loves.
He is 100% going to be a big part of special teams with the new kick-off rules.
His measurables leave something to be desired, but having watched him in college, I can definitely say that he's the kind of player that's a huge pain in the ass to play against. He also has a rent free residence in Caleb's head
>He also has a rent free residence in Caleb's head What happened?
Put him in the dirt a few times, and Utah in general was the defense he struggled most against by far. There was also the incident of Caleb writing 'FUCK UTAH' on his fingers only to go in and get wrecked by vaki and co
Ahhhh. Thanks for the info!
I mean I wouldn’t expect to find the best safety on the board or the best RB in the 4th round in the first place. Holmes is just getting himself another football player, doesn’t have to be the best to contribute
I think he meant best on the board at the time
Anything past first round and maybe 2nd are crap shoots. All just gambling.
I meant of the guys left I liked some other guys more.
I think Jaden Hicks was still on the board at the time. I haven’t watched a ton of Vaki but I know hicks was an absolute hitter
Glad he was still available, he’s already been reported in the media to be wanted by the 49ers as well. Glad we got ‘em. FT9ers
Following up my previous comment, I'm here for Rodrigo blocking for Viaki on offense just for the lols.
In trying to come up with a good nickname for the Gibbs and Monty duo, my friends kept trying to make Team Ramrod work. I feel like a Vaki/Rodrigo package would definitely be team Ramrod.
Who is a large Farva?
Manu of course. I’m not sure it gets much larger than 6’8” 350. Maybe throw in Skipper as a TE for the package.
I love this pick so much, I don’t think we’ve missed at all this draft, Brad cooking again
This pick makes me so insanely excited, another Brad Masterclass in the making
The international pick is a gamble but the rest are solid
He's 6 8 350 and ran a 4.9 40. That's a coaching pick.
Giving up a 3rd for an untested player is a gamble.
It’s the draft - they’re all untested
Half of all third-round picks don’t even get a second contract in the NFL It’s a perfect time to take a swing at a potentially high-ceiling player
Any pick beyond the 1st or 2nd round is something of a gamble, but point taken.
They did that with Brodric give it time
[удалено]
Fire ngl
Is that a good or bad thing in your opinion? Brodric has done nothing as of now
He’s also going into year 2, iffy and Barnes didn’t break out until year 3
Sure but he hasn’t proven anything yet and saying it like you did makes it sounds like Martin is a smart gameble
Neither did Iffy and Barnes at this point Lol sometimes these things take time
People keep stating Barnes and iffy we haven’t seen consistent play from them and they were not huge gambles they were just later round picks
I’d spend a third on a mountainous athletic freak if I could let him learn from Fraley and Sewell for two years. I don’t care if lesson one consists of “This is a football.”
We gave up this year's third to move up. We only really gave up a 4th next year for him. We swapped 164 to move up to 132, and 201 to move down to 210. Then we traded a 2025 fourth round pick.
You're not wrong, but I think if anyone can turn him into a quality players it's Frank Haley and company
Why is he being downvoted? It's ok to be a lil aprehensive initially
Dude is a physical freak and we gave up almost nothing for it. Let Brad cook
We got a starting corner in free agency for a 3rd..it's definitely not nothing
It wasn't a third, though. You are wrong, as I pointed out in another comment.
I'm talking about the Canada guy
Oh yah my bad. You were wrong about the other trade.
Not sure we needed to move up for him but who knows
That was my reaction all of last year during the draft, I think Brad must know things that we don't. He's on one, and I'm here for it!
Brad gets his guys and he doesn’t care what your board says. He doesn’t care what Kiper’s board says or PFF’s either. But every year, there are cries of “He could have gotten him a round or two later.” You don’t know that and neither does Mel Kiper.
Yeah, every year there are plenty of guys that the “experts” are down on that the GMs and coaches love, and vice versa. According to the experts, the Lions had two big time reaches and two big time steals, which I think just goes to show how far off they can be in their evaluations sometimes.
He was this year's Jabrill Peppers. Probably the brightest player on Utah's team. Really special player. I think he adds lots of value
KNEW we were going Vaki! Fuck yeah! Dude is going to be ELITE in the new return game.
Everything I’ve read about this guy leading up to the draft screamed Brad Holmes type player. Not sure of his physical skills but he sounds very much like an Amon-Ra type.
Island strength like Puka
I think he will play all 3 phases, offensive, special teams and defense.
This feels like this years Rodrigo. I like this pick.
kinda slow 40 for a running back or a safety, but maybe he's just not a track athlete and gps tells a different tale
Returner?
He also has a history of injuries. I like the pick if he can stay healthy
The 2 picks today seem like reaches and trading up makes little sense to me but Holmes has earned trust
HE’ll be a sleeper trust
Why are we taking another rb?
But can he play RT?
This dude is all dog and as a bonus, Caleb Williams is already sick of having to deal with him
Kneecaps!!
Poly pipeline continues , maybe Sewell should be an ambassador after he Hangs up the cleats
KR specialist
AKA: Fake punt pass catcher
Sounds like he could be Cabinda's replacement.
Lions fan living in Utah and a big Utes fan. This guy is unreal. Every time we had an injury, he showed up playing in that position and dominated. As a safety he regularly was in on every tackle and is a solid hitter. As a running back, he is shifty and stout. Was easily my favorite player on last years roster. I'm over the moon that he is a Lion now!
This draft was a roller coaster. So pumped after two rounds, a little baffled in the 4th then pumped some more after the sixth.
Used to go to grade school with this guy and all I have to say are good things about this guy, you guys are getting a great asset but an even better character, class act.
I’m also a Utes fan. I’m from utah. He never really played runningback until 2 got injured. He was a dope safety though
I completely trust Brad and Dan But I'm not a fan of picking a safety
What about a safety AND running back?
We really only have Joseph and Ify after Tracy Walker was released, and Joseph just had surgery. I know Branch can play S but we need him for Nickel. I'm ok with depth at a position that was hurt all last year
I thought part of the reason we brought in so many CB's was so Branch can play safety no?
Brad doesn’t draft based on position, he’s said it quite a few times He said he addresses needs during FA so that he’s free to draft BPA for the whole draft
I mean he clearly factored in needs this draft. Either Brad or Dan (don’t remember which) mentioned having branch play safety more. Which would leave a likely combo of Robertson/Rakestraw in the slot
Robertson gonna surprise a lot of people... Dude's a DOG and going to win a starting job here.
I believe it! I actually expect Rakestraw to be the odd man out at first. Carlton Davis rarely plays a full season though so he will get his time
That could be the case, yeah
Yes that's the case. And it's even more evident now after drafting back-to-back CBs on the draft lol
Here is one of his [nicer cuts](https://youtu.be/myuN_NTIzlg?si=ZXncg18RZXWFqlEh&t=4m50s) as a RB
They announced him at RB
Bruh we lost half our safety room lol. We need depth and this dude can immediately contribute on STs. And fwiw, he was announced as an RB.
We have a lot of DBs than can dual at strong safety, but the only free safety on our roster is Kerby. This guy can play deep, so he's good depth
Who.do you think our depth safety are? Hint: we have 0 lol