Two players the Detroit Lions need to consider after the NFL Combine

Rashan Gary, defensive lineman

Rashan Gary, defensive line, Michigan, 6-4, 277, 4.58

Let me preface this review by saying that Kick In the Crotch Weekly was raised near Ann Arbor, Michigan. With that knowledge out there (we don’t hide it), let me say that if Bob Quinn, Detroit Lions general manager, drafted Gary with the eighth overall pick I would not be sad. Rashan Gary has Pro Bowl talent and sometimes reminds me of a slightly smaller Ndamukong Suh.

Rashan Gary has been in the conversation prior to the Combine but many felt disillusioned by what they deemed poor production compared to his status coming out of high school.

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Since our first time of seeing Gary wreck an opposing lineman during the Under Armour High School All-America game, we have come to appreciate his blend of strength, size, speed, and raw physical talent.

The anchor of the Michigan defense for the past two years, Gary has 24.0 career TFL’s and 10.5 sacks in three years, while missing four games this past season. His production isn’t huge but it is respectable, the numbers came from the University of Michigan sports website.

Gary was the top player in the country when he left Paramus Catholic in Paramus, New Jersey in 2015. Rashan has some similarities to a current Lions end, Da’Shawn Hand.

Hand did not have monster production in college, despite being a five-star prospect. Hand has since been a steal for the Detroit Lions, albeit as a fourth-round pick; perhaps Gary will enjoy the same kind of rebirth.

While Gary does not have the elite bend that teams covet as a pass rusher, he has very good athleticism and compares favorably to last year’s number five overall pick, Bradley Chubb, from North Carolina St. Chubb dropped slightly due to the war over quarterbacks and Saquon Barkley.

Chubb’s college career numbers are better  (his career was a year longer) but the only test he beat Gary’s numbers in was the broad jump, where he exceeded him by one inch, according to NFL Draft Scout. Otherwise, the former Wolverine beat the former Wolfpack star in every measure.

Predictions about Gary’s draft status have him drafted all over the place but the now healthy Gary showed his skills while in Indianapolis. His production numbers aren’t huge but he has made a lot of plays by taking on double-teams while teammates then received single-man blocking, like teammate Chase Winovich. The numbers and his play show that he has the skills of a high draft pick.

Who do you think is now a real possibility for the Detroit Lions to draft at pick eight now that the combine is over? Write it in the comments section!