In case you hadn't noticed, it's mock draft season in the NFL. Every week brings a new batch of projections, and they won't stop coming until the actual draft kicks off April 25.
With the Lions picking eighth overall, interest is particularly high locally.
In truth, the team's most pressing need probably lies at defensive end. The Lions haven't had a dominant pass rusher since Ziggy Ansah's 2015 season. And Ansah, who hasn't been healthy since, is expected to depart via free agency.
"Going local always feels easy for the Lions for some reason. We don't have a lengthy profile for the Lions' decision-making process during the draft, but continuing to load up on front-seven guys feels like a very viable option for them."
Gary isn't a straight-up defensive end, but his strength is certainly getting after the quarterback. And despite underwhelming numbers at Michigan, he remains a likely top-10 pick thanks to his strength and athleticism.
In fact, Kiper moved Gary up from No. 9 to No. 4 in his aforementioned mock, believing he'll wow teams at the combine next week.
"I think when you look at the physical and athletic ability, he’s got to test out like the freak we know he can be, numbers that are just off the charts to maintain that position -- which I think he will," Kiper told reporters in a conference call on Tuesday.
In 22 games over his last two seasons at Michigan, Gary recorded 9.5 sacks and 23 tackles for loss. He finished with just 3.5 sacks last season after missing three games due to a shoulder injury.
"He’s one of those guys that you expect to be much more productive from a sacks perspective in the NFL than he was at Michigan, which is something you don’t necessarily always want to have to say," Kiper added. "You want to already have that production from a sacks standpoint.
“But once he’s in the NFL -- because he tests great -- any defensive line coach will say, 'Hey, give me that guy. I can make him a guy that will have big sack numbers.'"
Could that be Matt Patricia's stance? He cobbled together a pass rush last season without tons of raw talent, and could surely push the ceiling higher with Gary. Detroit's defense, which turned a corner toward the end of the year, would be much more potent with a player consistently capable of disrupting the pass.
As for the idea that the Lions might go "local" based on their draft history, it bears mention that general manager Bob Quinn hasn't shown that tendency. He's favored players from the SEC instead, with five of his top six picks coming from that conference.
That's not to say Quinn will rule Gary out, or any other player from the Big Ten, but his Michigan pedigree likely won't mean much.
Gary, for his part, has no doubt as to where he stands on the draft board -- regardless of his college background.