A CLOSER LOOK: Wide receiver Kenny Golladay

WR, Kenny Golladay, Northern Illinois Ht./Wt.: 6-4, 218, as measured at the Combine. Bio: One of the better high school players coming out of the Chicago area in 2011, Golladay ended up at North Dakota to start his college career. As a true freshman, he caught 30 passes for 429 yards and a touchdown. He was an honorable mention All-Big Sky pick in 2013 as UND's leading receiver with 69 receptions for 884 yards and eight scores.Golladay moved back home to play for Northern Illinois after UND’s head coach was fired following his sophomore season. He sat out the 2014 season as a transfer redshirt, then stepped into the lineup to become a second-team All-MAC pick with 73 catches for 1,129 yards and 10 touchdowns. He was a first-team selection in 2016, after racking up another 1,000-yard season (1,156) and eight scores on 87 receptions.* He was the first player in school history to record back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons. Combine results:* 4.50 in the 40-yard dash; 35.5-inch vertical jump; 10-0 in the standing broad jump; 18 reps of 225 pounds in the bench press. NFL Draft Scout analysis of Golladay: “Golladay’s combination of footwork, size and suddenness will enable him to create separation at the next level. His hands and ball skills on deep passes in traffic may end up determining whether he’s merely a rotational receiver or someone who can develop into a starter in the NFL.” Scout's take: “Big, tall, lean linear athlete with great length and enough foot speed to factor vertically outside the numbers, where he is best. Has a special teams temperament and the physicality to earn more playing time as a receiver for his blocking ability. Draft projection: Fourth to fifth round” – from Nolan Nawrocki’s NFL Draft 2017 preview Tim Twentyman’s take: Golladay had an impressive showing at the NFL combine last month, running a 4.5-second 40-yard dash at 6-feet-4 and 218 pounds. He was a productive receiver, who led Northern Illinois with 87 catches for 1,156 yards and 10 touchdowns last season, becoming the first player in school history to post back-to-back 1,000-yard receiving seasons. His size and speed combo is intriguing.Mike O’Hara’s take: It’s a big jump from North Dakota and Northern Illinois to the Lions and the NFL, but Golladay has something the Lions are lacking at wide receiver – size. At 6-4 and 218 pounds, he can be a big target for Matthew Stafford. And if he develops quickly enough, he can be a tall red-zone target to help improve what has been a weakness in the offense. Receiver depth chart: Golden Tate (91, 1077, 4) and Marvin Jones Jr. (55, 930, 4) return as starters. Also returning – Jace Billingsley (practice squad), TJ Jones (5, 93) and Ryan Spadola (practice squad). Free agents added: Jared Abbrederis – one reception for eight yards in five games with Green Bay in 2016; Keshawn Martin – no receptions in one game with 49ers in 2016. Note: Veteran Anquan Boldin, who led the Lions with eight touchdowns last season, is still deciding where he wants to play in 2017.