With training camp activities heating up, here are three Detroit Lions who could shine early
Despite all the unknowns a worldwide pandemic has forced upon the NFL, early phases of training camp have started across the league. And the Detroit Lions are among them, although there have been some early obstacles to overcome.
Still, it appears at some point, training camp practices will be at full swing. When they are, here are three young Lions we believe could become standouts in the coming weeks that fans will be excited by.
D’Andre Swift, RB
The offseason hype surrounding rookie running back D’Andre Swift has been building. And we believe that train will only continue to pick up speed as the regular season approaches.
Possessing a skill set that allows Swift to plow through the middle of the line for tough yards, the speed to break off jaw-dropping plays on the outside, and the receiver ability to take it to the house; we believe the rookie will put on a daily show in these practices.
Expect to hear reports coming out training camp on the regular proclaiming the playmaking ability of Swift and how excited fans should be for his regular-season debut in Honolulu blue and silver.
Amani Oruwariye. CB
A fifth-round selection in 2019 out of Penn State, Amani Oruwariye came on strong at the end of his rookie season. Racking up two interceptions, tied for tops on the team last year despite playing in just nine games (two starts), the 24-year old should give fans hope for the future of the position.
The Lions added both Jeff Okudah and former Pro Bowler Desmond Trufant to the cornerback room this offseason. Along with last year’s signing of slot specialist Justin Coleman, the starting trio in Motown appears to be set for this season.
Yet, if Oruwariye continues to progress, it could be hard for Detroit to hold him out of the starting lineup for too long. Especially if he puts on a show in the coming weeks during training camp practices. If so, look for the Lions’ defense to run corner-heavy sets more often just to get their best playmakers on the field.
Jeff Okudah, CB
This one should come to no surprise to any Lions’ fan. After all, Detroit used a top-three pick on Jeff Okudah in April, the highest a cornerback has been selected in the NFL draft since the late 1990s.
Okudah is expected to come in Day One and instantly replace a three-time Pro Bowler in Darius Slay. It’s a monumental task that’s made even more difficult due to a virtual-only offseason training program. But Okudah seems to possess the self-confidence to overcome these obstacles.
And if this is truly the start of a Hall of Fame career for Okudah, we likely start to see inklings of his brilliant play during his first training camp.