Detroit Lions Defensive Ends 12/19

Lions have an All-NFL player in Ziggy but have major question marks after that. Devin Taylor and Brandon Copeland will be counted on to step up. May still pick up a veteran during camp.

2015 STATS: DEFENSIVE ENDS
PLAYER	GAMES	TACKLES	SACKS	FORCED FUMBLES
Ziggy Ansah	16	47	14.5	4
Devin Taylor	15	35	7	1
Wallace Gilberry#	16	23	2	1
Anthony Zettel*	13	46	4	1
Brandon Copeland	16	14	.5	0
Deonte Gibson*	12	39	9	0
Louis Palmer*	12	30	1	0

Active Roster
Ziggy Ansah
Devin Taylor
Kerry Hyder
Brandon Copeland
Wallace Gilberry
Anthony Zettel
Armonty Bryant

Gone:
Jason Jones Miami
Darryl Tapp Saints

Ziggy Ansah 4th year in Detroit 46 games 44 starts
1st round pick 2013
Lions stats: 128 tackles 30 sacks 8 FF
Playoffs: 1 start 2 tackles 1 sack
Preseason: 9t 1.5 sacks 1 td
College BYU 31 starts 72 tackles 4.5 sacks 1 int
Contract 2 years $5,916,433
Combine: 6051 271 4.63 21 34.5 910 4.726 7.11

A 2nd team All-NFL player in 2015. Ziggy has to shoulder the pass rush in 2016. Look for a big year from Zig.

Devin Taylor 4th year in Detroit 45 games 2 starts
4th round pick 2013
Lions stats: 64 tackles 10.5 Sacks 3 FF
Playoffs 1 game 1 tackle
Preseason: 21 tackles 2.5 sacks
College South Carolina 52 games 45 starts 161 tackles 18.5 sacks 5 FR
Contract final Year $750,146
Combine: 6070 266 4.72 16 35 1008 4.3  6.89

A strong finish to 2015 has Devin slated to start in 2016. Showed ability to rush the passer and play the run. Needs to step up.

Wallace Gilberry 10th year in the NFL 1st in Detroit 115 games 22 starts
UFA 2016 Bengals $1,250,000
NFL stats:176 tackles 31.5 sacks 7 FF Bengals Chiefs
College: Alabama 38 games 160 tackles 15 sacks 3 FF
Combine/pro day: 6022 268 5 19 30 910

A productive veteran with gas left in the tank. Will be the 3rd end for 2016. Struggled all season placed on IR October 5. Signed with the Bengals

Brandon Copeland 3rd year in the NFL 2nd in Detroit 16 games
FA 2015 Ravens
Lions stats: 11 tackles
Preseason 6 tackles
Contract: 1 year $525,000
College Penn 39 games 160 tackles 11 sacks
Super Regional Combine: 6021 265 4.72 30 32.5 1002 4.49 7.29

A full tine end in 2016 after splitting time at LB in 2015. A strong special teams player who showed flashes at End in 2015. Will be in the rotation this season.

Anthony Zettel 6th round pick
College: Penn State: 20 sacks 3 interceptions
Combine: 6027 277 4.81 28 30 904 4.39 7.63
Contract: 4 years $480,931

A productive college player who will be the 5th end in 2016 . A strong player who has shown pass rush ability.

Deonte Gibson UDFA rookie
College: Northwestern 47 games 83 tackles 15 sacks
Pro day: 6014 261 4.68 20
Contract: 3 years $450,000

A productive pass rusher at Northwestern. He lacks length but has burst. Probably on the practice squad.

Louis Palmer UDFA Rookie
College: CMU 48 games 61 tackles 5 sacks
Pro Day: 6010 269 5.03 21 28 810 4.53 7.11
Contract: 3 years $450,000

Survived the offseason on the 90 man roster. Unlikely to stick.

Quanterus Smith 4th year in the NFL 1st in Detroit 15 games
FA 2016 Broncos
NFL Stats: 11 tackles 2 PBU Broncos, Jets, Jags
College: Western Kentucky 48 games 137 tackles 24 sacks 5 FF
Contract: 1 year

Smith at Camp

A player with multiple knee injuries, Last played for the Broncos in 2014 where he was performance was rated poor by Pro football focus.

Armonty Bryant 4th year in the NFL 31 games 4 starts
Waivers Browns 2016
NFL Stats: 63 tackles 8.5 sacks 1 FR 2 FF
College: East Central
Contract 1 year
Combine: 6037 263 4.86 4.69 15 34.5 1001 4.43 7.14

Picked up off of waivers following a PED suspension and could face a suspension for an arrest. Was suspended for three games.

2016 Season: 5 games 5 tackles 3 sacks 1 FF Placed on IR December 6

Corey Lemonier 4th year in the NFL 50 games 3 starts
Waived Browns 2016
NFL Stats: 46 tackles 3 sacks 3pbu 2 ff
College: Auburn 98 tackles 17 sacks 7 FF
Contract 1 year
Combine: 6033 255 4.6 27 34" 911 7.14. 4.4

Signed to be a pass rusher late in the season. Will play DE in Detroit.