Checking in on Detroit Lions' Biggest Project Players

There actually are projects that are fun and fulfilling, rather than those annoying tasks your significant other thinks would be fun to do together. For instance, the Detroit Lions have five such projects on their roster that are endlessly more entertaining than picking out and hanging the new sconces.

(For the single men, yes, sconces are a thing. No, I didn't know what they were until I was 30 years old. It's OK.)

These projects are almost always young players who were drafted in the late rounds or signed afterward. There are, however, others who were taken much earlier in the hopes of grooming them into All-Pros.

So who are the Lions' current project players, and how are they faring? Click through to find out.

DE Larry Webster

Ben Margot/Associated Press

General manager Martin Mayhew had an eye on the future when he selected defensive end Larry Webster in the fourth round of the 2014 NFL draft. Webster had played only two years of football for Bloomsburg after four years of basketball, per NFL.com, and was extremely raw.

Detroit didn't expect much out of Webster his rookie year. That expectation was realized. Webster was never active, instead spending the season learning how to play defensive end and getting stronger.

Webster carried over that same approach to the offseason. He's now up to 270 pounds and is putting in the work necessary to become a contributor this year. At least, that's what head coach Jim Caldwell would have you believe (h/t Kyle Meinke of Mlive.com):

"

He has made leaps and bounds in terms of strides in his ability to rush the passer. He's tough. The (coaches) do some extra work with him after practice and they've been raving about what he's been able to accomplish and just watching him kind of grow and develop. So at some point in time, he's going to play and play well for us.

"

A quick scan of Twitter or Lions-related message boards reveals fans who are excited at Webster's prospects for success. It's understandable considering Webster clocked a 40-yard dash that was just .05 seconds slower than Jadeveon Clowney's, as well as finishing just an inch off in both the vertical and broad jumps. Plus, Webster clocked the quicker three-cone drill.

The news so far seems to be encouraging. Maybe Webster can deliver on those fans' hopes and at least prove an adequate replacement for the departed George Johnson.

DT Caraun Reid

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

The Lions also need help behind the starting defensive tackles, and it appears that Caraun Reid is ready to snag a few more snaps. He only added four pounds, but his physique shows a recalculation of his body fat percentage (h/t Nate Williams of SideLion Report):

"

Caraun Reid appears to have added some size to his frame in the offseason. Eager to see how he progresses this year. pic.twitter.com/sH4wPoEY5B

— Nate Williams (@SLR_Nate) May 28, 2015"

The camera wasn't the only one to notice. The coaching staff must have been pleased, because it deemed him worthy of first-team reps, per Alex Reno of PrideofDetroit.com:

"

Good to see some news regarding Caraun Reid taking 1st team reps and getting stronger. Didn't really impress when called upon last year.

— Alex Reno (@alex_reno) May 28, 2015"

This is a significant step for Reid. It isn't, however, enough to start tweeting out hot takes about how Reid is deserving of a starting job. 

As Reno suggests, Reid had a hard time holding his own against powerful offensive linemen last season. He was easily overwhelmed at the point of attack, which sapped his quick burst off the line. That's why the coaches challenged him to get stronger. His response thus far has been strong. Let's hope that strength translates to the field once the hitting starts.

OT Michael Williams

Duane Burleson/Associated Press

There isn't a lot of new news regarding one of Detroit's most interesting projects.

The Lions converted Michael Williams from tight end to offensive tackle and stashed him on the practice squad last year. When LaAdrian Waddle finally went down for the season, there was some speculation that Williams might be promoted to the active roster.

That prognostication led to the insightful quote from head coach Jim Caldwell that Williams had "improved by leaps and bounds," per Justin Rogers of Mlive.com. Apparently it wasn't enough to warrant the bump in responsibility because we didn't hear anything else about him until Kyle Meinke, also of Mlive, tweeted out the following:

"

OT Michael Williams also was signed to a futures deal, per Lions

— Kyle Meinke (@kmeinke) January 6, 2015"

And there hasn't been much since. Rogers wrote in a recent article that "[t]he Lions like Williams," and said that "[t]he important thing for Williams is he stays healthy."

Williams has never made it through a preseason without missing time. He must hit the field running and stay there this year, because Detroit added seventh-rounder Corey Robinson, who will compete for the same reserve spot.

QB Kellen Moore

Paul Sancya/Associated Press

Everyone's favorite backup quarterback is in the third year of his development, and it seems all of his hard work is starting to bear fruit.

Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com recently reported that Kellen Moore split the second-team reps with Dan Orlovsky at OTAs. While the debate about Moore already has enough fuel to last long past the end of his career, the intensity will only continue to grow once Moore sees time against second-string defenses in the preseason.

For now, head coach Jim Caldwell is sticking with vague observations and his normal platitudes about work ethic (h/t Twentyman):

"

I think any time that you get guys that are smart, that are hard workers, they continue to improve.

With him, he’s got a better grasp of the offense, he’s got a better feel for the guys that he’s playing with. I think the receivers in which he’s throwing to; he’s getting an opportunity to throw it to them a little bit more often, so there’s a bit of an uptake there. I think you see that in guys that have his kind of characteristics and make up.

"

I don't have a degree in psychology or English, but I believe Caldwell said that Moore understands the offense better than last season and is throwing the ball more because he's a smart guy who is throwing more passes. Caldwell probably doesn't have a career as an analyst waiting for him after his coaching days are done. 

Regardless, Moore is taking it all in stride. He told Twentyman "[w]e'll see what happens," and that "at the end of the day come the season everyone has a role and you do that role to the best of your ability." It appears Moore is learning a system of speech from his coaches as well as an offense, but the latter is helping him see more time on the field, which could pay off for the Lions in the long run.

TE Eric Ebron

Paul Sancya/Associated Press

All rookie tight ends are projects. So few of them contribute significantly in their first year that the project designation is warranted since it takes time to develop them into fully functioning professionals.

And I doubt anyone would spare Eric Ebron from that title. His first season was marked with inconsistencies, and his actions were slowed by the amount of energy spent thinking about what he was supposed to do instead of just doing it.

Unfortunately for him and the team, he didn't start the OTAs on fire. The second day brought drops and "jitters," per Kyle Meinke of Mlive.com, giving his critics plenty of fuel to work with.

But you won't find Ebron worrying about the comments of real-life anaysts, ticket-buying fans or Internet-dwelling trolls. He's too busy focusing on his game, as he should be, which is an indication of the person he believes he is now (h/t Meinke):

"

Absolutely. Absolutely. Totally different person. Just more mature, man. Just continue to understand, and actually take advice. I was always standing out and always better than everyone else (growing up), as you would say. And I never really heeded advice.

Now I do, from everybody.

"

Golden Tate agreed with that analysis, saying Ebron had "grown up a little bit," and Ebron's new and improved physique further backs that up. However, few will care if it doesn't translate to the field. This is a bottom-line business, and so far, Ebron has been on the wrong side of the ledger.

All advanced stats, grades and positional rankings are courtesy of Pro Football Focus.

Brandon Alisoglu is a Detroit Lions Featured Columnist who has written about the Lions on multiple sites. He also co-hosts a Lions-centric podcast, Lions Central Radio. Yell at him on Twitter about how wrong he is @BrandonAlisoglu.