Dave Birkett

Detroit Free Press

Darren Fells may be best known for his blocking, but the Detroit Lions see much more than that in their new tight end.

Both Lions general manager Bob Quinn and coach Jim Caldwell made a point at the NFL owners meetings last week to say they see Fells as a viable receiving option in their offense this fall.

“He’s a big, primarily blocking tight end, but we think we can utilize him in other areas as well because he’s a really athletic guy for being so big,” Quinn said. “He’s 270-plus pounds. So that’s kind of what his role was in Arizona, but we’re going to try to – once we get him in here in the OTAs and work with him a little more closely, we’ll try to expand that.”

Fells, a former college basketball player who played the sport professionally overseas, turns 31 later this month but has played just four NFL seasons.

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He spent most of 2013 on the Arizona Cardinals’ practice squad and was a part-time starter the last three years, when he caught 40 passes for 536 yards in 38 games.

Eric Ebron, the Lions’ third leading receiver last season, remains the team’s No. 1 option at the position, but the Lions envision Fells as an all-purpose tight end who can help out as a red-zone threat and as a blocker in the run game.

“Fells is one of those guys that I think has obviously the bulk and power that you’re looking for,” Caldwell said. “Even though he’s that ex-basketball player, he’s got some ruggedness in inline blocking. But he also has I think some skills just in terms of being able to catch the ball as well.”

The Lions ranked 30th in the NFL in rushing last year, and saw adding Fells as a surefire way to upgrade their running game.

As deep as this year’s draft is at tight end, Quinn said most prospects are “very role specific” while Fells is much more versatile.

“I think he’s going to help us in a couple different areas,” Caldwell said. “He’s a different type of guy than some of the F-type guys that you have out there moving around, but I think he can be effective.”

Contact Dave Birkett: dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.

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