Let’s be real, the countdown to training camp has officially begun, and I can’t be the only one who’s already dreaming about seeing our rookies suit up in Honolulu Blue. After what Brad Holmes did in this year’s draft, I’ve been losing sleep thinking about how these young guns are gonna look when they hit the practice field.
Two Rookie Draft Picks I’m Excited To See
I’ve gotta tell you, there are two picks that have me bouncing off the walls like a kid on Christmas morning.
First up? Our boy Tyleik Williams. When we selected him at #28, I nearly knocked over my coffee table celebrating. Here’s why I’m counting down the days until I see this big man in action: Williams was an absolute wrecking ball at Ohio State.
The way he explodes off the snap is something else. Just ask any Big Ten offensive lineman who had the misfortune of trying to block him last season. What really gets me excited is imagining him learning from Alim McNeill and creating absolute chaos in the middle of our D-line for many years to come.
But what really has me drooling is thinking about our run defense with Williams in the mix. Remember how we struggle at times with mobile QB’s? This kid’s got the strength to eat up double teams and the quickness to shoot gaps. Those one-on-one drills against our interior O-line in camp are gonna be must-watch stuff.
My second can’t-wait-to-see pick is Isaac TeSlaa out of Arkansas. Look, I know some folks raised their eyebrows when we took him in the third round, but trust me, this receiver is the real deal. If you didn’t catch his breakout game against Alabama last season, do yourself a favor and look up the highlights. The way he high-points the ball and makes contested catches is giving me serious young Kenny Golladay vibes (the good version, obviously).
What’s got me really intrigued about TeSlaa is his potential in our offense. Sure, we lost Ben Johnson. But this Lions coaching staff has been cooking up some of the most creative schemes in the NFL, and adding a 6’4″ target with TeSlaa’s catch radius could take things to another level. I can’t wait to see him working those red zone drills with Goff.
But enough about my picks. I’m dying to hear which rookies you all can’t wait to see. Are you pumped about Ahmed Hassanein, our new edge rusher from Boise State? Maybe you’re intrigued by Dominic Lovett, who could be a sneaky good slot option? Or perhaps you’re like half our fanbase who’s already in love with Tate Ratledge’s nasty streak, and awesome mullett, on the offensive line?
Drop a comment below and let me know who you’re most excited to watch when training camp kicks off. And hey, if you’re really feeling passionate about it, hop over to our forum where we’ve got a whole thread dedicated to training camp predictions. Trust me, the discussions over there are heating up faster than a Lions tailgate in September.
One of the best things about being a Lions fan is how we can debate, discuss, and dream together. Whether you’re a longtime member of our pride or a first-time visitor to ThatDetroitGrit.com, your voice matters in this community. So don’t be shy. Jump into the conversation and let’s keep this football talk rolling.
Who knows? Maybe we’ll look back at this thread in December and see who called it first when one of these rookies is making Pro Bowl noise.
Alright, Lions family, the comment section is yours. Let’s hear those training camp hot takes!