It’s early in the NFL season.
But I’m going to make my pick now for the Lions’ breakout defensive player of the year.
It’s Anthony Zettel, the second-year defensive end. (Sorry, Jarrad Davis. Maybe next year.)
I’m picking Zettel because he had a great game in the opener against the Arizona Cardinals, which validated all the promise he showed during training camp. I’m picking Zettel because he fits the mold of the diamond-in-the-rough breakout stars the Lions consistently have mined under defensive line coach Kris Kocurek.
But I’m also picking Zettel because he’s a bit of a mold-breaker when it comes to his personality, compared to those of serious and understated defensive ends like Ziggy Ansah, Cliff Avril and Kyle Vanden Bosch.