The Detroit Lions finally drafted a receiver, taking Wisconsin’s Quintez Cephus in the fifth round.
Cephus is a versatile offensive weapon who can line up on the outside or in the slot in Darrell Bevell’s offense.
He’s not the fastest, with a 4.73 second 40-yard dash time at the Combine (4.62at Pro Day), which isn’t ideal for a receiver. At the same time, he is a physical player who can outmuscle defensive backs for contested catches.
The @Lions play indoors, but Quintez Cephus (@QoDeep_87) has no problem playing in NFC North weather. ❄ pic.twitter.com/IJTK8g0WL4
— Wisconsin On BTN (@WisconsinOnBTN) April 25, 2020
Though he’s never been known for his return skills, he can put his physicality to good use as a gunner on kicks and punts.
He’ll have a tough fight ahead of him as the Lions have seven other receivers vying for the fourth and fifth receiver roles, but he brings a unique skill set that could separate him from the rest.
There are some issues with this pick though, as there have been some legal troubles with Cephus that kept him off of Wisconsin’s team in 2018. Character is a concern with him, but hopefully, that changes now that he’s in the pros.