The Detroit Lions have acquired inside linebacker Jon Bostic for a conditional 2017 seventh round draft pick. Bostic had been acquired in September of 2015 by the Patriots from the Chicago Bears.  He had been taken in the second round (50 overall) of the 2013 NFL draft. Bostic missed some games in 2014, and the majority of the offseason in 2015 while with the Bears due to a back injury. The conditional pick likely relies on Bostic making the opening day roster, making this a good move by General Manager Bob Quinn. The Lions have picked up a player that it would seem likely Quinn was largely responsible for bringing from Chicago to New England.

If Jon Bostic is healthy, he is an explosive hitter, who sometimes gets a little overzealous; not wrapping, and relying on impact to take a ball carrier down. Bostic is listed at 6’1″ 245lbs. He was a combine standout in the 40 yard dash, three cone drill, and 20 yard shuttle, after a stellar career with the Florida Gators, indicating a high level of short area quickness and straight line speed. Bostic was viewed coming out of college as a powerful player who would likely fit in to the league as a two down thumper  lacking instincts to excel in coverage at the NFL level. In very limited work last season, hampered by injury, Bostic received an overall rating of 53.5 from PFF.

Jon Bostic has family ties to the Detroit Lions

Off the field, Bostic has ties to the team, with his father having played for the Lions as a defensive back from 1985-1987, making the Honolulu blue and silver a family tradition for the Bostic clan. With any luck, we’ll be seeing a lot more hits like this one Bostic put on Teddy Bridgewater in his the Sugar bowl back in 2013, without the penalty flag of course. Beyond a doubt, he is a jackhammer whether on special teams or defense, and potentially could fill a role at the bottom of the depth chart for the Lions this season.