Monday proved Brian Mihalik would be the best Lions offensive lineman-turned-skill player

This week’s SB Nation theme is: Who would be the best offensive lineman on each team that could play a skill position?

We here at SB Nation have a proud tradition of celebrating big men with the ball in their hand. For several years, we’ve awarded The Piesman Trophy to the best play in college football involving a lineman getting their hands on the ball and making a play.

Week 9 in the NFL created an amazing moment in lineman ball-carrying history thanks to Sunday Night Football’s matchup between the Raiders and Dolphins. Oakland offensive lineman Marshall Newhouse picked up a fumble (forced by some guy named Ndamukong Suh), tried to run, and this is what happened:

So now that we’re inspired by such an athletic play from a front-five guy, we ask: Who would be the best Lions offensive lineman to switch to a skill position?

The answer is easy, because the Lions had their own Newhouse moment this week, albeit much less theatrical:

Look at that awareness! Look at those hands! Brian Mihalik is the Lions’ next, best tight end, if you ask me.

All joking aside, Mihalik is easily the most athletic player on the Lions’ front five. In fact, he made Kent Lee Platte’s All-RAS Team, which collected the best athletes at every position from the history of the NFL dating back to 1987. Here are Mihalik’s fantastic combine numbers:

He’s fast, he’s strong, he’s long, and he’s not too heavy. Move over Tion Green, this is the Lions’ new goal-line back!

Detroit has to get the ball in Mihalik’s hands at least one more time this season. This can’t be his final statline for 2017:

How is he supposed to negotiate his next contract with the worst receiving stats in the league? Get the ball into this guy’s crazy-big, 10.4-inch hands.