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When the Detroit Lions drafted wide receiver Corey Fuller in the sixth round last year, he was described as a speedy but raw player. With that in mind, it's no surprise that he spent 2013 on the practice squad. Despite the Lions' struggles at wide receiver, especially once injuries piled up, Fuller wasn't able to do enough to get a promotion to the active roster.
The story could be different in 2014 with Fuller having a year of experience under his belt. The Lions are still in need of help at wide receiver, and Lions general manager Martin Mayhew likes Fuller's potential.
Mayhew on PS WR Corey Fuller: "He has a chance to be a good player for us" We're looking for guys like that that can run, get down field
— Dave Birkett (@davebirkett) February 21, 2014
Last preseason, Fuller had all of 1 catch for 6 yards, so it's not exactly realistic to expect that he will make a drastic jump in his second season and suddenly become a starting-caliber receiver. However, simply making the 53-man roster would be a step in the right direction for his development, and it's not like the Lions are counting on him to be one of their top receivers in 2014 anyway.
In the long term, hopefully Mayhew's assessment will turn out to be accurate and Fuller will indeed become a "good player" for the Lions. Mayhew's other wide receiver draft picks (Derrick Williams, Tim Toone, Titus Young and Ryan Broyles) haven't exactly turned out so well for a variety of reasons, but hopefully Fuller will be able to help buck that trend.