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Lions offseason questions: Position switch

Earlier this offseason, offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell talked about how cornerback Jamal Agnew had been working with the wide receivers during the virtual program.

"With the ball in his hands, he does great things with it," Bevell said of Agnew. "When you have those types of players, you want to get the ball in their hands."

While Agnew could very well line up with the receivers this season, it got me thinking, hypothetically and just for fun, which other Detroit Lion do you think could play another position?

I asked the Detroitlions.com crew, and here's what they had to say:

Tim Twentyman: Don Muhlbach at quarterback

A lot of people might not know it, but long snapper Don Muhlbach has a cannon for a right arm. He throws a beautiful football. I've seen him sling it all over the field, and I swear it's a perfect spiral every time. Muhlbach could step under center and sling it around as a quarterback.

He's not going to make many plays rolling out into the open field, but from what I've seen watching him throw it at practice the last 11 years I've covered the team, Muhlbach could step back there and throw it around.

Mike O'Hara: Kenny Golladay at safety

Everything he's done in three years at wide receiver could transfer to defense and make him an ideal candidate to play free safety.

You want size? He has it – almost 6-4 and 218 pounds. Speed? Plenty, with a 4.5-second time in the 40-yard dash in the 2017 Combine.

Add big hands – almost 10 inches – and a 35.5-inch vertical jump and you have the physical makeup for a Pro Bowl free safety.

Those measurable traits do not overshadow Golladay's most important quality: Production. Golladay led the NFL with 11 touchdown catches in 2019, and he's one of the best receivers in the league at making contested catches downfield. He could do the same tracking balls in the secondary.

Moving Golladay to defense would create one major problem: Matthew Stafford wouldn't be happy to lose a Pro Bowl receiver.

Tori Petry: Don Muhlbach at quarterback

I'm definitely not making a case for Matthew Stafford to be unseated as QB1, but the Lions' longtime long snapper has a sneaky strong arm.

Of course, it takes more than just that to be an NFL QB, but I'm just saying, I wouldn't be upset if we got to see Muhlbach toss the football for a play or two. If Matt Prater can throw a touchdown, why not Muhl?

Editor's Pick: Kenny Golladay at defensive end

Same player as Mike, but a different position.

Sure he's a bit undersized for a defensive end, but I think back to 2018 when Jets cornerback Trumaine Johnson intercepted Stafford. Golladay tackled him, forced a fumble and recovered the fumble. That play would have been impressive from any defensive player, let alone a receiver. Would those skills translate to getting after the quarterback? Maybe.

Golladay shouldn't quit his day job at wide receiver, but if he had to try a different position, I pick defensive end.

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