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Will the Detroit Lions’ reigning sack leader even start in 2017?

By Steven Mullenax

Sep 18, 2016; Detroit, MI, USA; Tennessee Titans offensive tackle Jack Conklin (78) defends against Detroit Lions defensive end Kerry Hyder (61) during the fourth quarter at Ford Field. Titans win 16-15. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 18, 2016; Detroit, MI, USA; Tennessee Titans offensive tackle Jack Conklin (78) defends against Detroit Lions defensive end Kerry Hyder (61) during the fourth quarter at Ford Field. Titans win 16-15. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /
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After posting a team-leading 8.0 sacks in 2016, will Detroit Lions’ defensive end Kerry Hyder even be a starter in the Motor City this season?

When football fans think about a dominant pass rusher playing for the Detroit Lions, the name most likely to come up first is defensive end Ziggy Ansah. Unfortunately, a high-ankle sprain limited Ansah’s effectiveness as the 28-year old recorded a career-low 2.0 sacks in 13 games last season.

Picking up the slack for the Lions and Ansah last season was surprisingly left defensive end Kerry Hyder. An undersized (6’2″, 270 pounds) and undrafted free agent out of Texas Tech in 2014, Hyder lead Detroit with 8.0 sacks last season. That’s despite starting in only two games in 2016.

Hyde recorded five of those sacks in the Lions’ first four games of the season. Unfortunately the 26-year old posted just a single sack in Detroit’s final eight contests, including their playoff loss to the Seattle Seahawks.

Although his production certainly makes him the front-runner to start at left defensive end this upcoming season, Hyde’s inconsistency and the addition of a newly signed free agent could force the Lions’ 2016 sack leader to come off the bench.

"“Kerry Hyder was one of the Lions’ most pleasant surprises last year, coming from nowhere to lead the team with eight sacks,” wrote Dave Birkett for the Detroit Free Press recently. “Hyder’s played tailed off in the second half of the year – he had just one sack in the final eight games – and while he’s the favorite to start opposite Ziggy Ansah this fall, the Lions did sign Cornelius Washington early in free agency.”"

Even though both Kerry Hyde and Cornelius Washington are veterans, each has only started two regular season games in the NFL. So considering his experience within the system, the edge to becoming the starter at left defensive end has to go to Hyde.

Next: NFC North Position Rankings - Defensive Line

But there’s little doubt that the starting role at left defensive end is up for grabs. And each defender’s play between now and throughout the preseason could and ultimately should determine the winner.

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