A Look At The Detroit Lions Signing Of UDFA Brandon Powell.
Brandon Powell is another wide receiver UDFA that the Detroit Lions have signed in the 2018 off-season. He was known for his speed and big play ability during his time at Florida. While he primarily played wide receiver, he did get a good number of reps as a running back due to his athletic abilities and solid vision.
Powell is a smaller receiver whose career in the NFL will likely come out of the slot on offense. At 5’9, 188 lbs, size and long term health may be a concern with him. However, outside of his freshman year, he did not miss a game during his tenure as a Gator. Granted the NFL is a whole other level of impact and toll on your body, but staying relatively healthy through four seasons in the SEC is a good sign about his health moving forward.
Quarterback woes at Florida really hurt the production of Powell, among their other offensive weapons. But he did increased his performance relatively each season. While he did struggle a bit as a punt returner, he was 3rd in the SEC as a kick returner. His great speed, burst, and vision made him a versatile tool for the Gators to plug in when their team needed a spark. He compiled 131 receptions, 1330 receiving yards, 9 receiving touchdowns, as well as 122 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns on 41 attempts.
Where Does Powell Have A Shot To Make The Roster?
The Lions are incredibly deep at wide receiver heading into the 2018 NFL season. Arguably one of the deepest units in the league. The camp battle is going to be fierce, leaving Powell likely on the outside, looking in. However, if Ameer Abdullah or Jamal Agnew end up injured during this season, Powell may get activated. Depending on how camp battle shake out, he could be the next man up at the kick returner position. Many UDFAs that find success in the NFL, get their start on special teams and Powell could be next in line.
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