We are rapidly approaching Detroit Lions training camp. The rookies are due to report in just 19 days. Then we will begin one of the more fun annual traditions. Finding out who this years camp darling is going to be.
The camp darling, for those who don't know, is the guy that fans just fall in love with during training camp and the preseason. The thing about that guy is that he usually has a small chance to make the team and fans really zero in on what that guy does against a bunch of players that also have a small chance to make the team.
Tom Kennedy might be the biggest camp darling of them all. He'd have to go head to head with Zach Zenner on that one, but Kennedy gets the slight edge because he keeps sticking around. Other guys that come to mind are Carmen Messina, Matt Willis, Dylan Drummond, George Winn and Kellen Moore. There's a ton more, but those are the big ones.
With that in mind, who's going to be the guy for the Lions this year? Who will fans fall in love with? We've got five candidates, here they are:
Jake Funk
Why its Zach Zenner 2.0 right here in front of us. Seriously, he runs just like him. Funk is a hard running guy that has minimal shiftiness, but can lower that shoulder and run through a guy. We haven't got to see a ton of him since he's mostly been a practice squad guy for the Rams, Saints, Colts, Dolphins and Ravens. He should get some run during the preseason this year. Maybe we'll get to see more of this.
Daurice Fountain
This guy has a shot to sneak onto the Lions 53-man roster since they have some questionable depth at receiver right now. Fountain is another guy that could put up some big plays during free agency and have fans falling in love with him. He was the Bears camp darling in 2023 becasue he was able to make plays like this in the preseason.
Fountain spent the entire season on the Lions practice squad last year, but he never saw the field. Maybe in 2024 that could change.
Kaden Davis
Davis was already the OTA and minicamp darling this year. The kid just made plays all spring long. He has a real shot to be the lead man for the camp darling position this summer and he has a chance to even make the roster.
Davis can be a good receiver, but one spot that makes him a little more dangerous is what he can do on special teams. The Michigan Panthers used him as a return man in 2023, so he has some history with the current return format. He can also go down and make a tackle.
Mathieu Betts
Betts has a better shot of making the roster than any other player we're listing today. He has like a 75% chance right now if we had to put a number on it.
Betts was the CFL's Most Outstanding Defensive Player award winner in 2023 after he put up an 18 sack season. Lions fans are rightly going to have their eyes glued on him throughout camp and definitely in preseason games. Everyone is hoping he can bring this kind of thing to the NFL.
Tom Kennedy
The OG is still here in Detroit. The Lions waived Kennedy during training camp last season due to an injury, but they brought him back on a futures deal at the end of the year. Now he has a chance to reclaim his crown. He also has a chance to find a spot on the Lions roster in 2024 .
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