The Detroit Lions are in rebuild mode after trading Matthew Stafford away for Jared Goff and a haul of draft picks. The front office has done a great job so far, prioritizing the trenches on both sides of the ball. Dan Campbell brought in a handful of “knee biters” to the roster, which hopefully begins the turnaround for this franchise.
Even so, the Lions are a long way from becoming a yearly playoff contender, but they have the foundation set in place to build upon. Between continuing to build the roster and some patience from the organization, the Lions could become competitive in a few years.
With that said, there are some exciting pieces on this squad. Penei Sewell looks to be a consistent left tackle, D'Andre Swift could take the league by storm, and the defense has some great players that should grow into solid contributors. However, there will be some opportunities for some of the guys deeper on the roster, as the Lions snagged a couple of talented prospects for their offense. With that said, here are two hidden gems on the Lions roster.
Jermar Jefferson
Jermar Jefferson is a running back out of Oregon State who was selected in the seventh round of the 2021 NFL Draft. Jefferson burst onto the scene his freshman year, rushing for over 1,000 yards and 12 touchdowns. He faded a tad his sophomore year, and COVID-19 prevented him from playing a full season in his final year. Even so, Jefferson was on pace for a monster campaign in 2020, as he was on pace for 1,859 yards and 15 touchdowns.
JERMAR JEFFERSON: HOME-RUN HITTER
— PFF College (@PFF_College) November 21, 2020
He's quick, shifty, and great when he finds open the opens space. D'Andre Swift has the starting role locked down, and Jamaal Williams is a solid backup. Jefferson has his work cut out for him if he hopes to see some playing time, but he has the talent to at least make the final roster. We might not seem Jefferson too much in his rookie season, but he could turn into a viable backup option in a year or two, giving the Lions a solid one-two punch at the running back position.
Sage Surratt
Sage Surratt was an undrafted free agent that was brought into Detroit to compete with the wide receiver group. He played college at Wake Forest and proved to be one of their top targets in 2019, where he racked up 1,001 yards and 11 touchdowns. He didn't play in 2020 and instead opted out to prepare for the draft. That may not have been the best choice, as he wasn't drafted, but luckily, he has a chance to prove himself in Detroit.
It's been a while since we've seen Sage Surratt on the field, but don't forget about what he can bring to the table. pic.twitter.com/Wb7ddSl1Pb
— Kyle Yates (@KyleYNFL) March 29, 2021
At 6-3, 215 pounds, Surratt is a big-bodied receiver that could turn into a nice red-zone target. He's also in a favorable situation, as the Lions receiving core is one of the worst in the league. If he hopes to make the team, he'll likely be fifth or sixth on the roster to begin his career, but could easily force his way into some playing time if the guys ahead of him struggle. If Surratt makes the final roster, he could turn into the main receiving option in the future.
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