Detroit Lions: 3 potential first-time Pro Bowlers in 2019
The Detroit Lions enter into the new season with as many as three potential first-time Pro Bowlers on the roster. Here’s our guess as to who they might be.
The Detroit Lions sent two players to the Pro Bowl following the 2018 season. Those players being cornerback Darius Slay and long snapper Don Muhlbach. Pro Bowl voting has been unkind to the Motor City in recent years.
But we expect that to change soon. Here are three young Lions whom we believe have the potential to crack the Pro Bowl roster following the results of this upcoming season.
Da’Shawn Hand, DL
Despite being a fourth-round selection in the 2018 NFL Draft, Hand emerged as one of the top defensive players in the entire class. With another year of offseason training under his belt plus more time spent in Matt Patricia’s defensive scheme, the 23-year old is set to have a breakout year in his sophomore season.
Hand has certainly earned himself a much bigger role in Detroit, having just started in eight games his rookie year. And his somewhat pedestrian numbers from last season, 27 total tackles, 3.0 sacks, and two forced fumbles, should see a significant bump.
Kerryon Johnson, RB
During his rookie season, Johnson rushed for an incredible 5.4 yards per carry. That was the second highest average of all qualifying running backs in the NFL last season. Based on his yards per game average, Johnson would have broken the 1,000-yard rushing milestone if a knee injury did not limit him to just 10 games in 2018.
If healthy and considering his new offensive coordinator is the run-heavy Darrell Bevell, Johnson should be able to fulfill the potential he flashed during his exciting rookie campaign.
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T.J. Hockenson, TE
Having been the eighth overall selection in the 2019 NFL Draft, you know the Lions are going to want to prove their high investment was justified by giving rookie tight end T.J. Hockenson plenty of opportunities in Year One.
Plus throw in the fact Hockenson will not be facing much stiff competition on the NFC voting ballot with the San Francisco 49ers’ George Kittle and Atlanta Falcons’ Austin Hooper (substitution for the Philadelphia Eagles Zach Ertz) earning the nod last season. The rookie should have ample opportunity to play in the NFL’s version of an All-Star game in his first year.