2020 Detroit Lions roster preview: What the offense has to offer
Lions Offensive Roster Preview: The pass-catchers look as talented as ever
Tight Ends
This position could be a tight battle in camp, but the Lions may surprise almost everyone by carrying four tight ends. It seems like it could be a good idea this year to carry four of them as free agent Jesse James has been a large disappointment in the time he’s been in Detroit. Keeping two younger tight ends and getting them playing time should he continue to struggle could pay off in the long run.
Going into the season, it appears that two tight ends should be a lock to make the roster. The first being T.J. Hockenson for obvious reasons the second being Jesse James seeing as how the Lions just recently handed him a not-insignificant contract.
After those two guys, the focus narrows in on youngsters Isaac Nauta and Hunter Bryant. Nauta was a late day-three draft pick in 2019 and saw some decent playing time at the end of last year following a stint on the practice squad to start off the year. The Georgia product is a good blocker who can line up in-line as a tight end or in the backfield as an H-back.
That versatility as a blocker should boost his chances, especially if he can improve enough to be considered a better blocker than James. Nauta also has the athleticism to line up out wide for Detroit, giving them a wide array of options when he’s on the field. Washington tight end Hunter Bryant is not to be ignored either.
While not the most impressive of blockers, Bryant brings solid size and good athleticism that could help him succeed in the NFL. He needs to improve on his catching, as he can be prone to drops, but without the pressures of being a top-10 pick, Bryant might be afforded the time and development needed to improve his game to an NFL level.