The summer travel season affords me the chance to get caught up on NFL-related podcasts and a lot of car time with Sirius XM NFL Radio on the dial. It’s also offseason list time. The Detroit Lions come up more than you might think on these national scenes.

Well, a few Lions do anyway. It’s easy to find content on Matthew Stafford, Kenny Golladay, Darius Slay, Trey Flowers and rookie TE T.J. Hockenson (who is overwhelmingly beloved by the national pundits, by the way). The Damon Harrison contract situation and Matt Patricia as the coach also get attention.

One key Lions player invariably slips through the cracks despite being eminently deserving of national renown: Quandre Diggs.

You know, Pro Bowl alternate safety Quandre Diggs. The guy who started all 16 games and thrived despite a position change from slot corner to strong safety. The man who kicked off the 2018 season with a pick-6, one of his three INTs — the second year in a row with three. The player I’ve long maintained is the best tackler on the team.

Yet for some reason, Diggs almost never gets brought up. Even worse, Lions fans themselves don’t often bring him up when discussing the team’s defense or the top players on the team. Diggs has proven he’s an invaluable presence and a popular teammate, and the former sixth-round pick from Texas is exactly the kind of player Detroit tends to embrace. He’s a hard worker, hard hitter and humble man.

So if you’re pondering what Lions jersey to buy next, give Diggs and his No. 28 some consideration. He’s proven how appreciative he is of his loyal fans, after all. At least remember him when you’re thinking about the keys to the season, because the Lions defense would be in a real quandary without Quandre Diggs.