Detroit Lions: Handing Out Awards for the 2016 Season
By Zac Snyder
Most Improved: Kerry Hyder
Perhaps the most intriguing vote came for Most Improved where Kerry Hyder edged out Travis Swanson despite getting only one first place vote compared to Swanson’s three.
| Name | First | Second | Third | Points |
| Kerry Hyder | 1 | 4 | 11 | |
| Travis Swanson | 3 | 1 | 10 | |
| Eric Ebron | 1 | 1 | 4 | |
| Zach Zenner | 1 | 1 | 3 | |
| Matthew Stafford | 1 | 3 | ||
| Tahir Whitehead | 2 | 2 | ||
| Quandre Diggs | 1 | 2 | ||
| Darius Slay | 1 | 1 |
It was kind of an all-or-nothing vote for Swason as he was earned the first spot on three ballots but was only mentioned on one other. Hyder did well outside of his one first place vote by racking up points with four second place votes to win the Most Improved Award.
It’s fitting the award was so close considering both came out of nowhere to post unexpectedly good seasons. Hyder was a total surprise as basically an unknown until a breakout preseason finale. Swanson had name recognition but mostly for the wrong reasons of being regarded as one of the weak links in the offensive line.
While Eric Ebron, Zach Zenner, Matthew Stafford, Tahir Whitehead, Quandre Diggs and Darius Slay also got mentions, this was really a two-man race between Swanson and Hyder. That seems fitting.