5 Detroit Lions whose stock is on the rise after minicamp
4. EDGE Mitchell Agude
Going with a sneaky one here. Agunde spent all of last season on the practice squad, but multiple reporters took very positive note of his work during OTAs and minicamp as he got higher-level reps. As the Lions search for capable edge rushers when camp starts, he's got undeniable momentum going in.
Via Jeff Risdon of Lions Wire:
"Agude is getting a lot of second-team EDGE reps and making the most of them. Granted it’s unpadded, but his power-to-speed and long-armed bull rush look legit. He ran step-for-step with rookie RB Sione Vaki on a wheel route in Wednesday’s session and that definitely caught my attention. The 6-4, 250-pound Agude was on the practice squad in 2023 but he’s pushing for much more in ’24."
Over three seasons at the FBS level in college, two at UCLA and one at Miami (FL), Agude totaled 21.5 tackles for loss and eight forced fumbles. He definitely has some latent potential, and opportunity seems to be legitimately knocking for him to earn a spot on the Lions' 53-man roster.
3. DT Levi Onwuzurike
Around Dan Campbell's minicamp comments that Onwuzurike has has a good spring, the former second-round pick had noticeable showings during Tuesday and Wednesday practices. He said he has added weight, and with his back fully healthy for the first time since college he had a simple explanation for the difference in how he feels and thus how he can perform better.
"The best way I can explain it is everything is moving together as one. Speed to power, my whole body feels like one, all together", Onwuzurike said.
Campbell was careful to say the obvious-that the Lions have not been in pads yet. When we remember he suffered what turned out to be a major back injury during the first practice of 2022 training camp, that will be a critical step for Onwuzurike as he looks to move all the way off the roster bubble
Onwuzurike needed a strong run during offseason work. He had it, so he's on the rise looking toward training camp.