2024 recruits report: Daron Gilbert’s versatility can provide him with a role in Detroit – the pride of Detroit

Disadment is the word that best describes the trip of the linear player Daron Gilbert to NFL. Gilbert already had a difficult battle in the training camp as an untreated rookie in a crowded player room. The fact that he had only one year of experience playing the position only added to the challenge.

Gilbert is a native of Detroit, who played for Brother Rice High School. He began his collegial career as a safety at Lafayette College, FCS School in Pennsylvania. After four solid seasons with the leopards, he transferred to North Illinois and switched his position from safety to the linear player. He started all 13 games in his senior season and was also a key associate in special teams.

Previously in our Rookie ReCap series: Kingsley Eguakun

Prejudice

After he went to the inoperative, Daron Gilbert received a very modest UDFA contract from Detroit Lions, containing only $ 2,500 guaranteed money.

Gilbert had a quiet training camp, but he really went on stage in the Presor. Against Giants, he played more click than any other ambulance in the list. Although he played a protective back in the biggest part of his collegial career, he looked more convenient as a defender of the box. He still showed his ball skills in the coverage and was credited with a breakthrough.

Gilbert’s power is his ability to read the opposite crime and play running against running. He was very quick to make decisions against New York and reduced his mistakes for a rookie to a minimum against the running game. His safety experience showed when it covers narrow edges and running back in the middle of the field in situations of passing short yards. He finished the game with four games and the aforementioned PAS breakthrough.

Unfortunately, Gilbert was injured in a practice after this pre -season game and was refused with a regulation on August 13th.

Regular season

While the nature of the injury was unclear, refusing to such a designation meant that Gilbert had a chance to land with another team in 2024 or even return to Detroit.

Gilbert was signed again on the Detroit team on December 26th. Gilbert was not promoted to any of the other Lion Games. After the end of the post -season start of the team, he was returned to a reserve/futures deal, indicating that the lions believe he had promised.

2025 perspectives

The main competition of Gilbert, aimed at the 2025 season, will be colleague Michiganders Anthony Pitman and Trevor Nowasque (both free agents that are likely to be returned). While all three are backup linear players and have the potential to be the main special teams, Gilbert’s flexibility can help him stand out from the others. While Pitman and Novasque can double as a standard internal linker or as a passing rubles, Gilbert’s power comes from his history as a safety and his ability to give up the coverage. His person’s skills need some work, but he is excellent as a protector of the area in a short space.

In order for Gilbert to break through the list of 53 people next season, there will be several things to happen. First, he will have to stay healthy. His injury prevented him from playing in two pre -season games and being on the NFL list for more than four months. This is a vital experience for an unprocessed rookie, which he has not acquired. He will then have to add a little loose. Listed at 6 feet and 218 pounds, he is the lightest player the team has in the position. Although this can help him with his reflection skills, he will still have to put some weight to successfully play a Linker at the NFL level.