Detroit Lions draft target: Central Michigan’s Joe Ostman
By Ash Thompson
The Detroit Lions may look for a home grown solution to their long term pass rush problems. Central Michigan’s Joe Ostman definitely brings a lot to the table.
The Detroit Lions have had trouble stopping teams behind the line of scrimmage. They could certainly use some help in that regard. Central Michigan defensive end Joe Ostman has been doing just that for the last few seasons. Over his career, Ostman has ripped backfields apart in the MAC. He has 45.5 tackles for loss and 26 sacks over his college career. A solid 13 of those sacks came in 2017.
Ostman was not at the NFL combine. He stands 6’2″ and weighs 253 lbs. He also ran a 4.75 40 yard dash. and stood out at the east-west shrine game. Ostman put up respectable agility scores with a 7.06 in his three cone drill, and a short shuttle in the 4.3s. He jumped 36.5″ up, and 122″ long.
Ostman should have been at the NFL combine. He looked solid at the East-West Shrine game lining up as an outside linebacker, and he more than proved he can make the move at the Central Michigan Pro day. He lacks the ideal reach for an edge rusher, and that will limit what teams are interested in his services.
If a team is willing to look past size Ostman brings a lot to the table. He was number eleven in college football in pass rush productivity, and eighth overall with 27 solo run stops. He is one of those “high motor guys” that Lions fans hear about but never seem to see in uniform on Sundays. From day one Ostman is going to be a special teams coordinator’s favorite rookie.
He may never carve out a full time gig on the defensive side, but players far more athletically limited than Ostman have spent a decade in the NFL because they put in the effort on special teams. His solid hand fighting ability will serve him well as he adjusts from being the star in college to fighting for a roster spot in the NFL.
Next: Lions draft prospect: Tyquan Lewis
The Lions went to the central Michigan Pro Day, and met with Ostman there. One thing is for sure, the kid from Mackinaw City would look just fine in the Honolulu blue and silver.