When the Detroit Lions drafted Joe Dahl in the fifth round of the 2016 NFL Draft, they knew he was going to be a long-term project. Used as mostly a left tackle at Washington State, he projected physically to be a guard, but had none of the experience playing in a three-point stance.
As general manager Bob Quinn continued to focus his efforts on the offensive line, each year would go by as Dahl seemed to remain low on Detroit’s depth chart. He would get a start here and there as an injury replacement, but he mostly served as a potential body for special teams.