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Detroit Lions get UDFA steal in Florida TE DeAndre Goolsby

By Sayre Bedinger

ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 03: Minkah Fitzpatrick #29 of the Alabama Crimson Tide breaks up a pass intended for DeAndre Goolsby #30 of the Florida Gators in the endzone in the third quarter during the SEC Championship game at the Georgia Dome on December 3, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 03: Minkah Fitzpatrick #29 of the Alabama Crimson Tide breaks up a pass intended for DeAndre Goolsby #30 of the Florida Gators in the endzone in the third quarter during the SEC Championship game at the Georgia Dome on December 3, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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The Detroit Lions may have an undrafted free agent gem on their hands in Florida tight end DeAndre Goolsby, who will compete for a spot this Summer…

In today’s NFL, the ability to create mismatches in space offensively is paramount to success on that side of the football. The Detroit Lions may have a nice matchup piece in newly signed undrafted free agent tight end DeAndre Goolsby.

Goolsby, who played three seasons at Florida, missed all but six games this past season and went undrafted after an underwhelming performance at his pro day.

Many Gators fans feel like Goolsby, along with a number of other players at the school the past few seasons, was underutilized and has plenty of untapped potential.

When you watch his highlight reel, it’s easy to see why…

Goolsby finished his career with the Gators with 68 receptions for 424 yards and five touchdowns, including a season-high 38 catches in 2016.

It was in 2016 where Goolsby showed out as a nice matchup player at the tight end position.

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Built more like a big wide receiver, Goolsby checked in at the Florida pro day at 6-foot-4, 240 pounds. We aren’t’ quite talking about the same player here, but Goolsby could carve out a similar role in the NFL to that of another former Florida prospect in Trey Burton.

Burton has become a jack-of-all-trades in the NFL and just received a huge payday from the Chicago Bears.

I don’t think Goolsby is quite the athlete Burton was coming out, but when you watch him play, you see some tendencies and strengths in his game that could allow him to be a really nice reserve tight end or matchup player at the next level.

He has strong hands and does a good job of catching the ball away from his frame. I like the effort he shows after the catch and the fact that he provides his team with a nice mismatch in the red zone.

The Lions let go of Eric Ebron this offseason, and while they made a number of moves at the tight end position, there remains an opening for a player like Goolsby to impress over the course of the next few months.

He could end up making an impact at some point in the passing game.

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