Getting bigger in the slot
WR Quintez Cephus (5th) and TE Hunter Bryant (UDFA)
In 2019, the Lions receiving core had several appealing options: a true number one receiver in Kenny Golladay, an experienced veteran in Marvin Jones, a quick slot option in Danny Amendola, a pure speed vertical threat in Marvin Hall, a balanced but inexperienced tight end in T.J. Hockenson, and a veteran tight end in Jesse James.
Not only do the Lions return all six pass-catchers but they added two more players from this draft class — Quintez Cephus and Hunter Bryant — that offer skill sets that were not on the roster. Because the Lions haven’t had these roles, for the most part, they don’t meet the QIB standards — expect in one glaring area.
Cephus lacks the agility of the other Lions receivers but his Burst Score (127.45) is second-highest among the receiving group, behind only Hall. Cephus’ ability to explode off the line-of-scrimmage and use his physicality to outmuscle defensive backs makes him a natural big slot receiver — a role the Lions have lacked since Anquan Boldin.
Bryant’s standout measurable is his 3-cone (measures ability to change directions at high speeds) where he ran it in 7.08 seconds, second among Lions tight ends behind only Hockenson (7.02), and was fourth fastest in the 2020 draft class. Bryant’s spot isn’t as guaranteed but he offers the Lions a pure move tight end who can also threaten the seam and is a monster to bring after the catch.
Hunter Bryant was an explosive play machine at Washington. There are issues for him to clean up (hand placement at the catchpoint, dipping his eyes into blocks), but he will change how teams choose to defend against an offense #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/AQc2vjk5UR
— Brad Kelly (@BradKelly17) February 11, 2020
Because both players each have valuable and unique skills, it will give them a significant advantage over others at their positions.