Arm talent: The NFL restricted how many tryout players teams could bring in for rookie minicamp to just five guys, so the Lions didn't have a quarterback in camp this weekend. Instead, offensive quality control coach and former San Diego State quarterback Tanner Engstrand played the position Sunday, and I have to say he was pretty impressive. He threw a couple touchdown passes in a 7-on-7 period, including a beautiful long ball to wide receiver Javon McKinley. Engstrand did throw one interception to safety Nick Pickett. – Tim Twentyman
Off the edge: One reason the Lions drafted linebacker Derrick Barnes in the fifth round was because of his versatility. He was an outside pass rusher for two years at Purdue, and moved to the middle his senior year. On one play Sunday he lined up outside a tight end's right shoulder, got into the backfield with a quick move, then cut to his right to pursue the ball carrier. – Mike O'Hara
Competitive practice: Head coach Dan Campbell incorporated a number of competitive sessions into Sunday's final practice of rookie minicamp. There was a race around a couple tackling dummies between the offense and defense. Cornerback Jerry Jacobs called out wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown for a race, and St. Brown beat him. In fact, the offense was the overall winner. While the races were going on one field, the offensive and defensive linemen were playing what they call med-ball tennis on the other field. Campbell said competition is going to be a big part of everyday life in Allen Park, both in the building and on the practice field. – Tim Twentyman
View photos from the final day of Detroit Lions Rookie Minicamp on Sunday May 16, 2021 in Allen Park, Mich.
Detroit Lions Head Coach Dan Campbell during Rookie Minicamp in Allen Park. (AP Photo)
Brock Wright and Alize Mack during Rookie Minicamp in Allen Park. (AP Photo)
Dedrick Mills during Rookie Minicamp in Allen Park. (AP Photo)
Dedrick Mills during Rookie Minicamp in Allen Park. (AP Photo)
Brock Wright and Alize Mack during Rookie Minicamp in Allen Park. (AP Photo)
Evan Heim during Rookie Minicamp in Allen Park. (AP Photo)
Dedrick Mills during Rookie Minicamp in Allen Park. (AP Photo)
Levi Onwuzurike, Tommy Kraemer, and Drake Jackson during Rookie Minicamp in Allen Park. (AP Photo)
Jermar Jefferson during Rookie Minicamp in Allen Park. (AP Photo)
Alim McNeill during Rookie Minicamp in Allen Park. (AP Photo)
Amon-Ra St. Brown during Rookie Minicamp in Allen Park. (AP Photo)
Jake Hausmann during Rookie Minicamp in Allen Park. (AP Photo)
Brock Wright during Rookie Minicamp in Allen Park. (AP Photo)
Alize Mack during Rookie Minicamp in Allen Park. (AP Photo)
Brock Wright during Rookie Minicamp in Allen Park. (AP Photo)
Drake Jackson during Rookie Minicamp in Allen Park. (AP Photo)
Jermar Jackson during Rookie Minicamp in Allen Park. (AP Photo)
Detroit Lions Special Teams Coordinator Dave Fipp during Rookie Minicamp in Allen Park. (AP Photo)
Detroit Lions Inside Linebackers Coach Mark Deleone during Rookie Minicamp in Allen Park. (AP Photo)
Tavante Beckett during Rookie Minicamp in Allen Park. (AP Photo)
Brock Wright during Rookie Minicamp in Allen Park. (AP Photo)
Derrick Barnes during Rookie Minicamp in Allen Park. (AP Photo)
Scott Daly during Rookie Minicamp in Allen Park. (AP Photo)
Alize Mack during Rookie Minicamp in Allen Park. (AP Photo)
Dedrick Mills during Rookie Minicamp in Allen Park. (AP Photo)
AJ Parker during Rookie Minicamp in Allen Park. (AP Photo)
Dedrick Mills during Rookie Minicamp in Allen Park. (AP Photo)
Drake Jackson during Rookie Minicamp in Allen Park. (AP Photo)
Evan Heim during Rookie Minicamp in Allen Park. (AP Photo)
Detroit Lions Assistant Head Coach/Running Backs Coach Duce Staley during Rookie Minicamp in Allen Park. (AP Photo)
Detroit Lions Tight Ends Coach Ben Johnson during Rookie Minicamp in Allen Park. (AP Photo)
Detroit Lions Offensive Line Coach Hank Fraley during Rookie Minicamp in Allen Park. (AP Photo)
Nick Pickett during Rookie Minicamp in Allen Park. (AP Photo)
D'Angelo Amos during Rookie Minicamp in Allen Park. (AP Photo)
Jerry Jacobs during Rookie Minicamp in Allen Park. (AP Photo)
Jermar Jefferson during Rookie Minicamp in Allen Park. (AP Photo)
Detroit Lions Head Coach Dan Campbell during Rookie Minicamp in Allen Park. (AP Photo)
Detroit Lions Defensive Assistant Coach Kelvin Sheppard Detroit Lions Senior Defensive Assistant Dom Capers Detroit Lions Inside Linebackers Mark DeLeone during Rookie Minicamp in Allen Park. (AP Photo)
Jonathan Adams Jr. during Rookie Minicamp in Allen Park. (AP Photo)
Detroit Lions Offensive Quality Control Tanner Engstrand during Rookie Minicamp in Allen Park. (AP Photo)
Levi Onwuzurike during Rookie Minicamp in Allen Park. (AP Photo)
Drake Jackson during Rookie Minicamp in Allen Park. (AP Photo)
Tavante Beckett during Rookie Minicamp in Allen Park. (AP Photo)
Detroit Lions General Manager Brad Holmes during Rookie Minicamp in Allen Park. (AP Photo)
Alize Mack during Rookie Minicamp in Allen Park. (AP Photo)
Alex Brown during Rookie Minicamp in Allen Park. (AP Photo)
Javon McKinley during Rookie Minicamp in Allen Park. (AP Photo)
Detroit Lions Head Athletic Trainer Dave Granito during Rookie Minicamp in Allen Park. (AP Photo)
Detroit Lions Offensive Coordinator Anthony Lynn during Rookie Minicamp in Allen Park. (AP Photo)
Jonathan Adams Jr. during Rookie Minicamp in Allen Park. (AP Photo)
Jake Hausmann during Rookie Minicamp in Allen Park. (AP Photo)
Jonathan Adams Jr. during Rookie Minicamp in Allen Park. (AP Photo)
Jermar Jefferson during Rookie Minicamp in Allen Park. (AP Photo)
Sage Surratt during Rookie Minicamp in Allen Park. (AP Photo)
Hunter Thedford during Rookie Minicamp in Allen Park. (AP Photo)
Alijah Holder during Rookie Minicamp in Allen Park. (AP Photo)
Jerry Jacobs during Rookie Minicamp in Allen Park. (AP Photo)
Sage Surratt during Rookie Minicamp in Allen Park. (AP Photo)
Detroit Lions Tight Ends Coach Ben Johnson & Alize Mack during Rookie Minicamp in Allen Park. (AP Photo)
Ifeatu Melifonwu during Rookie Minicamp in Allen Park. (AP Photo)
Greetings from the top: On separate occasions Sunday, GM Brad Holmes and Campbell took time away from practice to talk briefly with the media covering minicamp. It was a nice touch. – Mike O'Hara
Giant duo: Defensive tackles Levi Onwuzurike and Alim McNeill combine to weigh over 600 pounds, but one thing that stood out Sunday was just how quick both players are off the snap. They both lined up in multiple techniques in Aaron Glenn's 3-4 scheme. Both have a chance to be a handful for offensive linemen. – Tim Twentyman
Middle man: McNeill is built like a nose tackle at 6-2 and 317 pounds, and he can play like one. But there's more to his game than that. He is light on his feet and explosive. He showed that on a play when he lined up in the gap and got into the backfield to disrupt a running play. – Mike O'Hara
Size outside: You get an appreciation of just how big cornerback Ifeatu Melifonwu is by seeing him live. He's listed at 6-foot-3 and 205 pounds, and he stood out Sunday among the other defensive backs. He's also got speed and quick feet to match the size. He was good in 7-on-7 drills Sunday. Along with Amani Oruwariye (6-2), Jeff Okudah (6-1) and Quinton Dunbar (6-2), the Lions have really good size at the cornerback position. – Tim Twentyman
