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Detroit Lions: How to replace veteran offensive guard T.J. Lang

By Brenden Armour

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 20: Rodger Saffold #76 of the Los Angeles Rams looks on prior to the NFC Championship game against the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 20, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 20: Rodger Saffold #76 of the Los Angeles Rams looks on prior to the NFC Championship game against the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 20, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

Draft Replacement Three: Lamont Gaillard, University of Georgia

Gaillard started out his Georgia career as a guard, but ended up switching to center once the position became open. While he played a good bit of his career as a center, he can also play guard in the NFL. He showed outstanding leadership qualities while at UGA and played like one of the best offensive lineman in the SEC, en route to first place All-SEC honors.

He does not give up on his blocks, even when it seems he is beginning to lose the rep. In both games the past two years against a loaded Alabama front, he more than held his own against many NFL caliber players.

He is not currently being widely considered a great prospect, but I believe he has the talent and ability to become a top guard/center in the NFL much like former Bulldog center David Andrews. Andrews went undrafted out of Georgia in the 2015 draft and has been the leader of the New England Patriots offensive line the past few years en route to two consecutive Super Bowls.

Gaillard could very possibly follow the same route and go from late day three pick or undrafted free agent to the leader of one of the best offensive lines in the NFL. NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein said this about Gaillard:

"“Three-year starter and team captain whose tenacity and dirt-dog mentality typifies the Georgia offensive line over the last couple of years. Gaillard’s play is not without technique, but when the rep gets sideways on him, he will turn it into a proverbial fist-fight to try and hang on and get his job done … he’s capable of becoming an eventual starter sometime soon.”"

Next. Ranking the Detroit Lions’ first round picks since 2010. dark

Gaillard would not cost the Lions much, if anything, in draft capital and has tremendous upside as a center and/or guard in the league. If the Lions walked away with him in round seven, he would quickly become one of the biggest steals in the 2019 NFL Draft.

For more grades, advanced statistics and more at Pro Football Focus, subscribe to PFF’s EDGE or ELITE subscriptions at ProFootballFocus.com.

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