All 32 teams were represented in Gainesville for the Florida Gators pro day. There were two prospects on display who merit particular interest for the Detroit Lions, who dispatched a coach and a scout to the event.
Both defensive back Chauncey Gardner-Johnson and EDGE Jachai Polite are potential candidates for the Lions with Detroit’s second selection, currently No. 43 overall in the second round.
Gardner-Johnson continued to build on his strong offseason with an impressive workout with the explosion drills (broad jump, vertical jump). He’s a hybrid CB/safety and the Lions did scout him extensively during the Gators’ season. Gardner-Johnson scored his second pick-6 of the season in Florida’s bowl romp over Michigan.
Polite had a rough pro day. After coming up lame with a hamstring injury in Indianapolis during the scouting combine, Polite pulled the other hamstring running the 40 at the pro day. He’s added nearly 20 pounds to his playing weight and it appears his body simply cannot manage the extra bulk. Polite was productive, getting 17.5 of his 45 tackles (11.5 sacks) behind the line.
Off-ball LB Vosean Joseph is a middle-round option for the Lions as well.
