Detroit Lions

Lions teammates name DE Devin Taylor most improved player

Published Jan. 7, 2016 7:02 p.m. ET

foxsports

Detroit Lions defensive end Devin Taylor was not the same player in 2015 as he was in 2014. His teammates took notice of this fact, too.

After the season, Lions players selected Taylor for the team's Chuck Hughes Most Improved Player of the Year award.

Chuck Hughes Most Improved Player of the Year as voted on by #Lions players: https://t.co/54S05wbOd8 pic.twitter.com/XSvAxlLEyt
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) January 6, 2016

Taylor, a fourth-round draft pick in 2013, started two games as a rookie and recorded 2.5 sacks in addition to two forced fumbles. A promising future was squashed in his second season, though, when he didn't start any games and only notched one sack.

Then, in 2015, Taylor experienced a resurgence. Although he still served as a reserve defensive end, he finished the season with a career-high 35 tackles and seven sacks -- only Ezekiel Ansah had more (14.5). Jason Jones, who started ahead of him, finished the season with 4.5.

Devin Taylor was named #Lions' most-improved player by his teammates. His 2015 highlights: https://t.co/HoP2ituVZg https://t.co/QWXuqVLM6o
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) January 6, 2016

Jones is about to become a free agent, and Taylor is going into a contract year. This is a perfect opportunity for the rising pass-rusher to step up and prove that he is a starting caliber.

If he does, Taylor and Ansah could terrorize opposing quarterbacks together for years to come.