The Detroit Lions were supposed to be competitive in 2019. Instead, a rash of injuries and disappointing play led to a 3-12-1 record and a top-five pick in the upcoming NFL Draft.
However, while the team as a whole was less than stellar, a few individual players took their games to the next level. Whether it was an unheralded rookie or a player taking the step from good to great, here are three players that broke out in 2019 for Detroit.
Tracy Walker
In Tracy Walker's 2018 rookie season, the third-round pick out of the University of Louisiana recorded 21 tackles and one interception. This season, the 6-foot-1 safety was given a much larger role and started 12 of the 13 games he appeared in.
In total, Walker registered a team-high 100 tackles, six tackles for a loss, eight passes defended, and one interception for the Lions.
Walker certainly wasn't perfect as evident by the five touchdowns he gave up in 2019, but the kind of statistical production that the second-year player put up this past season was certainly a surprise.
If it weren't for a knee injury that kept him out for three games, Walker's production would have been even more impressive.
Golladay was already a really good wide receiver through his first two seasons. However, this season, the 6-foot-4 wideout went from good to great.
Golladay recorded a career-high 1,190 yards on 65 catches with 11 touchdowns to match. His spectacular season also led to Golladay being named to the Pro Bowl for the first time in his career.
No. 19's production is even more impressive when you consider the Lions only had starting quarterback Matthew Stafford for eight games this season. The remaining eight games, Golladay was forced to catch passes from Jeff Driskel and undrafted rookie David Blough.
Joe Dahl
A fifth-round pick in 2016, Dahl spent the majority of his first three seasons on the bench or on injured reserve.
The former Washington State product was named Detroit's starter at left guard before this season and in turn, Dahl was a bright spot for the Lions on the offensive line.
Again, injuries kept Dahl from playing a full season but in 13 games, Dahl allowed just three sacks and committed just two penalties.
Dahl consistently ranked as a top graded pass blocker according to Pro Football Focus and ranked sixth among all offensive guards in block win rate percentage.
Considering the Lions' options at quarterback and running back late into the season, Dahl did a really solid job at blocking for whoever Detroit put in the backfield.
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