



Like most NFL teams, the Detroit Lions have been churning through the process to get undrafted free agents signed and on the team, and some interesting names have recently come to the forefront for the team at a couple of key positions the team did not upgrade during the 2018 NFL Draft. Specifically, the Lions are adding tight end DeAndre Goolsby of Florida and linebacker Al-Rasheed Benton of West Virginia to the mix. Both will try their hand at making the team, and see if they can crack a roster which has seen modest additions at both spots, but might still need a sprinkling of depth.

Goolsby could have been a late round draft pick, but instead went unselected, leading the Lions to pick him up. In his career in Gainesville, the tight end was fairly productive going for 724 yards and five touchdowns in three seasons. At 6-4, Goolsby has some good size, and could be a guy who sneaks into the mix in order to give the Lions one more player at the spot where they have already added Luke Willson and Levine Toilolo this spring.

Last July, Lance Zierlein of NFL.com named Goolsby as a player to watch for last year's college football season, and pointed out some of his best traits, saying he was a "natural athlete" with "easy, smooth movement skills" who had some wide receiver like moves. While he might not be considered the best blocker, Zierlein added that wasn't likely what teams would be looking for him to do anyway.

With a need at the position, Goolsby could be in a good spot to perhaps crack the roster. He'll be fighting the likes of Hakeem Valles to stand out and get noticed. Detroit kept only three tight ends last year, but with Eric Ebron and Darren Fells both gone, the team could be looking to recoup some production from somewhere.

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When it comes to Benton, the Lions have signed a very productive linebacker that can do a ton of things. In four years with the Mountaineers, he put up 217 tackles, three sacks, three interceptions, one fumble recovery and one forced fumble, and was a productive, across the board defender for the team who only seemed to improve and mature as the years went on. In Detroit, he will have the chance to connect with Matt Patricia, a noted linebacker savant through the years. With many assuming this spot was a casual need for the team that went unaddressed, it's possible that Benton will be a sleeper to watch.

Each player has some definite skills at important spots on the team, and could be guys to watch for the Lions when all is said and done thanks to their upside and past production. Detroit has had luck in the undrafted free agent market before, so don't be surprised if one of these underrated players is the next to break through.