Did the Detroit Lions unearth another fifth-round gem?

The Detroit Lions have found some unusual success in the fifth round of recent NFL drafts. Will that trend continue with the selection of Quintez Cephus?

The Detroit Lions addressed several areas of need throughout the 2020 NFL Draft. The Lions made selections at cornerback, running back, edge rusher, and two interior offensive linemen prior to their fifth-round selection, 166th overall. And with that pick, they may have found a hidden gem in Wisconsin wide receiver Quintez Cephus.

A possession receiver at 6-foot-1, 202-pounds, Cephus recorded 59 receptions for 901 yards and seven scores averaged 15.3 per catch in 14 games last season. But his lack of vertical speed is a concern after posting a 4.73-forty time at the NFL Scouting Combine.

But Cephus’s biggest supporter could be the Lions’ top selection in this draft, Ohio State cornerback Jeff Okudah. The third overall pick in the first round called Quintez the best receiver he faced in college.

Okudah dismissed the slow 40-time concerns calling Cephus a technician between the lines that forced him to change his defensive strategy every time they meet. That glowing review from the draft’s best defensive back should get Lions’ fans excited about this wideout’s potential.

During the Bob Quinn’s tenure as general manager, the Lions have selected five other players in the fifth-round. Those names include Penn State cornerback Amani Oruwariye (2019), Oregon offensive tackle Tyrell Crosby (2018), San Diego cornerback Jamal Agnew (2017), Washington State guard Joe Dahl (2016), and Georgia Southern linebacker Antwione Williams (2016).

The above Day Three group has had a high success rate for the Detroit Lions. Agnew was an All-Pro special teams returner as a rookie. Dahl started 13 games for the Lions at left guard last season. Crosby could compete for a starting role in 2020. And Oruwariye had a strong finish to his rookie season recording two interceptions in Detroit’s final six games.