3 years later: Re-evaluating the Detroit Lions’ 2016 draft class

Joe Dahl, OL

Selected: Fifth round / pick #12 (151st overall)
School: Washington State
Position: Offensive Line
Career statistics: 22 games, 4 starts
Current status: Recently re-signed by Lions to 2-year contract extension, competing for starting right guard spot

Yet another offensive lineman taken by Quinn, Dahl came from a spread offensive system at Washington State where he primarily played tackle. That seemed unfeasible for him to carry to the NFL given his undersized frame, so he began his slow development on the interior. In the wake of Decker’s injury, Dahl did audition at tackle in 2017, but that experiment ended almost as quickly as it began.

Instead, Dahl plugged away over the next two years, becoming one of the Lions’ most important reserve linemen and occasional lead blockers, though he’s never been able to nail down a starting position. That could change this season as Dahl came into camp in excellent shape, and he was rewarded with a two-year contract extension last week.

Left guard figures to be one of the most important and most hotly contested position battles throughout the preseason for the Lions, and Dahl figures to be right in the middle of it. Should he end up winning the job and perform adequately, this draft will be a win for Quinn in retrospect.