Meet the Detroit Lions 4th 5th and 6th Round Picks in the 2017 NFL Draft
DETROIT LIONS SELECT TE MICHAEL ROBERTS WITH THEIR FOURTH-ROUND PICK (127TH OVERALL) OF THE 2017 NFL DRAFT
LIONS TE MICHAEL ROBERTS CONFERENCE CALL
On the contact he had with the Lions during the pre-draft process: “I had frequent contact with them. I had a workout with them. I talked to Coach Al Golden pretty often. That was pretty much it. I talked to a lot of different teams.”
On what this day means for him and his mother: “It means the world. Since I started my journey it’s always been about my mother and my grandma and supporting them. Even though I don’t get the chance to really support my grandmother, it’s still a dream to support my mother.”
On how he would describe his playing abilities: “It’s very passionate, I play with a lot of passion. This game is my life. I’m very resilient. I get better as the game goes. I never really run out of energy. I just love what I do.”
DETROIT LIONS SELECT CB JAMAL AGNEW WITH THEIR FIFTH-ROUND PICK (165TH OVERALL) OF THE 2017 NFL DRAFT
LIONS CB JAMAL AGNEW CONFERENCE CALL
On his excitement after being drafted: “You have no idea how excited me and my family are right now. We’re beyond tired. First of all, I want to thank Mrs. Ford, Mr. Quinn and Jim Caldwell for the opportunity to be a Detroit Lion. I went out there for a visit and I had a blast. Great people I met out there, great facilities and I’m just so excited to be a Lion.”
On if he has an idea of where he will play with the Lions: “Not really, I’m just looking forward to going in there and competing with the other guys, the other draftees, possible free agents and veterans and just looking to get better.”
On what impressions he had of the Lions organization during the pre-draft process: “It was great just because of the culture there. It felt like I was around my own family. They’re so thoughtful. They’re so warming and just everybody there that I met was fantastic. That’s why I’m so excited and that’s why my family is so excited, just because I tell them I went there and it felt like home. We’re excited that I get to a call a second place home.”
DETROIT LIONS SELECT DL JEREMIAH LEDBETTER (205TH OVERALL) AND QB BRAD KAAYA (215TH OVERALL) WITH THEIR SIXTH-ROUND PICKS OF THE 2017 NFL DRAFT
LIONS DL JEREMIAH LEDBETTER CONFERENCE CALL
On what today’s draft experience has been like for him: “Man, it was a long process. I was mainly with my family most of the night, most of the day. Just chilling, relaxing, waiting for the phone call, just enjoying my family’s presence was the main thing I was doing.”
On the social media video of him doing a backflip: “I mean, I can at times, but you know, I try not to do it to avoid injury. But I know it’s nothing to me.”
On his contact with the Lions during the pre-draft process: “I’ve been in contact with the Lions the last couple days. At the NFL Combine, getting to know the Defensive Line Coach, Kris Kocurek, and it’s just getting to know the program. I know this is a long process for me and it’s been a tough one and I’m just glad I’m a Detroit Lion now. I’m just blessed.”
LIONS QB BRAD KAAYA CONFERENCE CALL
On what the wait this weekend has been like for him: “You know, while I had different expectations going into this, my ultimate expectation was that I would ultimately get a shot to play in the National Football League. Just get an opportunity. For me, it didn’t matter which round that came in. Fortunately, the Lions saw something in me and are taking a chance with me. I’m not really promised anything right now. All I know that I will be promised is an opportunity to come in and put my head down and just go to work.”
On his relationship with Lions Tight Ends Coach Al Golden: “Yeah, I mean, Coach Golden was the whole reason that I ended up at Miami. He saw something in me years ago before I had a college scholarship. He actually was the first coach to offer me a scholarship before any teams in my hometown had a chance to. He just took a chance with me and, I mean, he’s the guy who I owe a lot of things to in terms of why I’m in the position that I’m in right now. I love that guy to death.”
On if he has talked to Golden throughout this process: “Yes, I have. I have. I saw him at the Combine. Talked to him after I declared and I talked to him recently. He just told me, you know, just don’t worry about things and know that you’ll get your opportunity to work at some point. He believes in me and just told me basically to not worry. Yeah, that was the biggest thing.”
DETROIT LIONS SELECT DL PAT O’CONNOR WITH THEIR SEVENTH-ROUND PICK (250TH OVERALL) OF THE 2017 NFL DRAFT
LIONS DL PAT O’CONNOR
On his expectations to be selected late in the draft: “Leading up to it I was kind of worried about it, but I kind of stayed humble for the whole experience I’ve been going through this. Just leading up to every pick, kind of staying humble with my family telling me that everything is all good. You know it will all work out in the end and then being called by the Lions, it was kind of a dream come true, kind of made my dream become a reality. So it kind of turned my downside of possibly not being drafted to being drafted.”
On if he had pre-draft communication with the Lions outside of attending the team’s local pro day: “The local pro day was great. I performed to the best of my ability. Being able to perform in front of Coach Kris (Kocurek) and work with him and just showcase my ability. And then after that I had a visit with them. I was able to meet with the whole coaching staff and then showed my personal side from the football side. It was fantastic.”
On his relationship with Lions WR Kenny Golladay in high school: “Kenny? Oh, Kenny was my dude. Before going off to college we were tight. We were senior classmates and best of friends to be honest. Now it’s just crazy how me and him are together on the same team right now. So it’s wild, honestly.”