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2017 NFL Draft: What was the Detroit Lions’ most underrated pick?

Which Detroit Lions draft pick isn’t getting enough credit?

By Jeremy Reisman
NFL: Combine Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

If you were to ask most Detroit Lions fan, they’d probably tell you that the entire Lions 2017 draft class is being underappreciated. While national pundits have mostly given the Lions average grades for their three-day effort, fans have given them a much more optimistic outlook. 60 percent of fans have given the Lions a “B” grade for their draft class and a majority (54 percent) believe Detroit had the best draft in the NFC North.

While there is likely a good amount of homerism at play there, it does seem that some individual selections may not be getting the respect they deserve. So today’s Question of the Day is:

What is the most underrated draft pick the Lions made in 2017?

My answer: Fourth-round linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin. Admittedly, I didn’t know much about this pick when it was made, but every new thing I learn about this guy makes me more and more excited for his future. We obviously still need to see how his play will be affected by the shoulder injury that caused him to miss the majority of his senior year at Tennessee.

But at the very least I expect Reeves-Maybin to be a standout special teamer in his rookie year. He excelled at the role in college and should see the field right away because of how well athletic build lends itself to special teams play.

But I have even higher hopes for him. I think there’s a very real chance he could be competing for the starting weakside linebacker position in 2018. The Lions showed they don’t have much faith in Tahir Whitehead by drafting Jarrad Davis to play middle linebacker. Whitehead will likely be better in his role on the outside, but 2017 is the final year on his contract. If his play doesn’t improve fast, he could very well be gone next year. Bob Quinn may have chosen to re-sign Whitehead last year, but he didn’t draft him. That alone could give Reeves-Maybin an edge.

Your turn.

Poll

What was the Lions’ most underrated 2017 draft pick?

This poll is closed

  • 1%
    LB Jarrad Davis
    (33 votes)
  • 19%
    CB Teez Tabor
    (318 votes)
  • 17%
    WR Kenny Golladay
    (298 votes)
  • 15%
    LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin
    (254 votes)
  • 18%
    TE Michael Roberts
    (310 votes)
  • 6%
    CB Jamal Agnew
    (115 votes)
  • 6%
    DT Jeremiah Ledbetter
    (112 votes)
  • 9%
    QB Brad Kaaya
    (155 votes)
  • 4%
    DE Pat O’Connor
    (75 votes)
1670 votes total Vote Now

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