Detroit Lions: Handing Out Awards for the 2016 Season
By Zac Snyder
![Oct 9, 2016; Detroit, MI, USA; General view of Detroit Lions helmet on the field prior to a game at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports Oct 9, 2016; Detroit, MI, USA; General view of Detroit Lions helmet on the field prior to a game at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/ac2be07704985421f262b69dd5febf4ad562c8a76ef9460b1cadd298f1ad47ac.jpg)
Rookie of the Year: Taylor Decker
No category saw as much unanimity among voters than in the Rookie of the Year vote where just four players were named on ballots. Not surprisingly, Taylor Decker was the unanimous winner.
Name | First | Second | Third | Points |
Taylor Decker | 6 | 18 | ||
A’Shawn Robinson | 4 | 1 | 9 | |
Graham Glasgow | 2 | 1 | 5 | |
Miles Killebrew | 4 | 4 |
Bob Quinn’s tenure with the Lions was never going to be determined by getting his first draft pick as general manager right but he got off to a great start with Taylor Decker. Decker’s rookie season has to be seen as exceeding expectations considering how quickly he was named the starting left tackle and that he not only proved to be Riley Reiff‘s equal, but outperformed what we’ve seen from Reiff in recent seasons.
A’Shawn Robinson and Graham Glasgow were fitting second and third place finishers considering they were the only other rookies to earn starting spots by the end of the season. Robinson saw his playing time increase at the expense of Tyrunn Walker as the season progressed and Glasgow stepped in for Laken Tomlinson at left guard before starting at center with Travis Swanson out with a concussion.
It’s also hard to argue with Miles Killebrew to round out voting. He didn’t get the playing time of the other three players mentioned here but he did earn a role on defense and managed to have an impact in that role.