Lions Draft Kenny Golladay – WR Northern Illinois
By Matt Urben
After trading back in a deal with the Patriots, the Detroit Lions drafted Northern Illinois wide receiver, Kenny Golladay, late in the third round. It’s the first offensive player taken by the Lions in the 2017 Draft thus far. Golladay is the kind of big, fast target that Detroit has missed since losing Calvin Johnson to retirement after the 2015 season.
Kenny Golladay – WR, Northern Illinois
Position: Wide Reciever
Size: 6-foot-4, 218 lbs
40-time: 4.50
Golladay was insanely productive for the Huskies, with back to back 1,000 yard seasons (1,156 yards receiving and eight touchdowns in 2016). He’s extremely fast for someone his size, and while it’s a little higher than he was anticipated to be drafted, the Lions needed a receiver badly, as they’ve been flying off the board in the third round.
Why He Fits in Detroit: As I just said, the Lions needed to add depth at the wide receiver position. They haven’t re-signed Anquan Boldin, and outside of Marvin Jones and Golden Tate, they’re extremely thin at the position.
If somebody were to get hurt, the team would have been in a vulnerable position on offense. The Lions don’t have a receiver on the roster as big as Golladay, which could help them become more effective in the red zone.
“Golladay could be targeted by teams looking for a field-stretcher with size who has the potential to become a matchup problem in the redzone. Golladay has the talent to become an eventual starter in the league,” says Greg Zierlein in his NFL.com scouting profile.
The Lions have acquired a physical specimen that quarterback Matthew Stafford will surely enjoy throwing the ball to. Check out Golladay’s college highlights below.
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