It is finally draft season for Lions fans.
Brad Holmes and his front office have proven they are very capable of putting together great draft classes. They have had major hits on every day of the draft, but especially on Day Two. This roster isn’t in desperate need of much because of his work, but they do have some positions that need to be addressed.
This offseason, they should be focusing on getting better play out of their defensive backs, adding depth on the defensive line, and building out the wide receiver room.
These scouting reports should introduce you to some of the names that Lions fans could hear during the three days of the NFL Draft.
Background
- Height: 6’2”
- Weight: 215
- 5th-Year Senior
- Played at Louisiana Tech and Tennessee (where he was a cornerback) before transferring to Pittsburgh
- 2-Star Recruit According to 247 Sports
- Voted Team Captain in 2023
- Selected to the 2024 East-West Shrine Game Roster
College Production
- 90 receptions on 166 targets
- 1,546 yards receiving
- 10 receiving touchdowns
- 17.2 yards per reception
Notable PFF Stats
- 5.5 yards after contact per reception
- Average depth of target of 16.9 yards
- 19 contested catches
- 93.6 quarterback rating when targeted
- 7.2% drop percentage
Traits and Skills
Ball Tracking
Bub Means looks the part and plays the part of a Mac truck playing the receiver position. All of the physical gifts don’t mean anything without his ball skills, specifically his tracking. It allows him to make contested catches and also adjust to his quarterback when he extends plays or makes tough throws.
YAC Ability
With size, it doesn’t always mean the player can pick up extra yards, but Means achieves that. He does a great job of picking up yards after the catch and even after contact. His vision and balance allow him to be able to pick up extra yards and maximize every play.
Size
Being 6’2″ and weighing 215 pounds, you may say, “Of course, size is a plus,” but not everyone uses it. Means does a solid job of using it to get advantages over defenders on the outside. He also uses it well when asked to work across the middle to handle linebackers in both coverage and contact.
Fit within the Lions Roster
The Lions wide receiver room is full of smaller-sized receivers but they need more youth and size don’t the outside. Means could play the role that Joshua Reynolds did but also work some within special teams. They have shown they like guys like Reynolds on the outside for the occasional big play or crucial conversion.
He is going to take some time to develop but his immediate impact could be made on specific packages on offense and on special teams. He could develop into something and his draft value could make him a low cost-high reward prize for Brad Holmes and his staff.