After a standout college football career at Hawaii where he was a four-year starter at linebacker, Jahlani Tavai generated plenty of buzz as an NFL prospect heading into the 2019 draft.
The New England Patriots were one of the teams rumored to be high on Tavai heading into Day 2 of the 2019 NFL Draft. However, their chance to snag Tavai disappeared when the Detroit Lions swooped in and selected him in the second round with the 43rd overall pick.
At the time, the pick was viewed as a reach among draft experts and scouts, but it was a risk the Lions were willing to take.