Detroit Lions: What’s overrated/underrated heading into 2020?

Transformations

Overrated: Jarrad Davis getting shredded in the gym over the offseason.

Davis has taken a ton of heat for his subpar play at linebacker,  with some even suggesting he’s in danger of of being cut this year, but you can’t question the guy’s commitment in the gym. Davis came back from the COVID-19 shutdown totally jacked following what he called a twenty week offseason program of workouts and attention to nutrition.

The only question is whether this body transformation will translate enough on the field to restore the coaching staff’s confidence in Davis. I say his sculpting is overrated, not because it isn’t impressive, but because his physique isn’t commonly cited as a main reason for his shortcomings the past few years.

Already an above average athlete for his position, most of Davis’s flaws seemed to relate to technique and positioning, rather than being out of shape or physically overmatched. There’s no denying that Davis appears to be in the best shape of his life, but there are many other areas where a similar transformation would be needed to secure his starting spot and reverse the narrative of his ‘first round bust’ reputation.

Underrated: Jamal Agnew making his case at wide receiver.

I’m still skeptical that Agnew can make a regular season impact at receiver, but the fact that he’s legitimately in the running for a mid-career position switch is noteworthy in itself. Moving from defense to offense as a three year NFL veteran, and doing it without any formal offseason program this year, speaks volumes about Agnew’s athleticism and desire to carve out a spot on this team in any way he can.

Agnew is drawing strong praise for his performance catching the ball, and has shown a smoothness that makes it easy to forget he’s been primarily a defensive back and return man. With Geronimo Allison opting out of the season and Travis Fulgham already released, Agnew as a receiver is becoming less far-fetched with each practice.