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Training camp is still about a month away, but the time is drawing nearer,and soon we’ll be making roster predictions on a nearly daily basis.
So why not get a head start on things, and begin taking a look at what the Detroit Lions’ 53-man roster will look like?
Every year, there’s around a 30 percent shift in personnel, but this year it could be even more. With a change in head coach—and therefore a big change in defensive scheme—the Lions’ roster could end up looking a lot different than it did last year.
And just about every year, a player who has all the odds stacked against him manages to work his way onto the 53-man squad. So today’s Question of the Day is:
Which Lions player is your dark-horse candidate to make the 53-man roster?
My answer: Undrafted rookie linebacker Chad Meredith.
I think Meredith has a really good shot at making the 53-man roster for a few reasons. First, the Lions’ linebacker depth is not very sturdy right now. Aside from Devon Kennard, Jarrad Davis and Jalen Reeves-Maybin, I don’t see a name on the linebacker squad that should feel comfortable about their roster chances.
Meredith also made a pretty solid impression during minicamp earlier this month.
“On defense, linebacker Chad Meredith stood out to me for a few reasons,” the Detroit Free Press’ Dave Birkett wrote following minicamp. “Meredith is just bigger than most linebackers at 6 feet 4 and 250-plus pounds, and he used his size to swat down a couple passes during minicamp and OTAs.”
Meredith has also already drawn comparisons to successful UDFAs:
Text from area scout on new #Lions UDFA Chad Meredith: "almost as good as Dylan Cole". Cole was Texans UDFA LB last year who made immediate impact on both base D and special teams.
— Jeff Risdon (@JeffRisdon) April 29, 2018
Combine all that with the fact that Meredith received a healthy $25,000 guaranteed from the Lions (fourth-most among Detroit UDFAs), and I think you have a player that will absolutely be in the mix for a roster spot come August.
Your turn.