INDIANAPOLIS – Rookie wide receiver Kenny Golladay had a solid rookie season, according to Detroit Lions general manager Bob Quinn.
But Quinn is also expecting much more from Golladay in year two.
"Kenny had a solid rookie year, kind of missed some time in the middle of the season with the hamstring," Quinn said of this third-round pick last season, when asked about Golladay at the NFL Scouting Combine. "Kind of worked back, I think Kenny has a tremendous amount of upside.
"I think he needs to really have a great offseason this year to get his body to where it needs to be. He has great potential, and looking forward to working with him."
Golladay finished the season with 28 receptions for 477 yards (17.0 average) and three scores, but he also missed five games in the middle of the season with a hamstring injury. He was even limited a week or two upon his return.
When healthy, Golladay showed he could be a legitimate deep threat, catching eight passes of 20-plus yards and five of 40-plus yards.
"I just look back and I wish I would have gotten those five games that I missed," Golladay said after the season. "I was blessed enough to come back from the injury and make plays for this team."
The biggest transformation, both physically and mentally, for an NFL player typically comes between their first and second seasons. They know what's expected of them, they've been in the weight and nutrition programs for a whole year, and the game slows down for them.
All indications are that Golladay has the right personality and work ethic to make the jump Quinn and the Lions expect him to make this offseason leading into the 2018 season.
The Lions already return two veteran 1,000-yard receivers in Marvin Jones Jr. and Golden Tate. Imagine what kind of trio offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter could feature if Golladay begins to reach that tremendous upside Quinn talked about.
"It's the perfect position to be in," former Lions receiver and current NFL Network analyst Nate Burleson said this offseason of Golladay. "You have two guys ahead of you that are taking all the attention and teams are game planning for. Golladay can go in and really shock the world if he can just stay healthy, be patient, take advantage, don't rock the boat."
