Baylor long-snapper Jimmy Landes was more surprised than just about anyone that the Detroit Lions decided to spend a sixth-round pick on Baylor long-snapper Jimmy Landes.
"I was very surprised," Landes told MLive.com. "I was expecting free agency, just because I know how rare long snappers get drafted. I wasn't expecting anything in the draft."
Landes was the only long-snapper invited to the combine and, according to the MLive piece, is one of four true long-snappers to ever be drafted. And while it seems like an interesting and heart-warming story, it did bring about an interesting debate -- one that started earlier in the draft when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers traded up to draft Florida State kicker Roberto Aguayo. At what point does the value of drafting a special teamer, especially a long-snapper, exceed the value of taking a swing on a boom or bust position player late in the draft?
"We did a lot of work on all the long snappers, like we do every year, and we felt like he would be a guy that would be able to come in and compete for a spot," Detroit GM Bob Quinn said. "The value was right at the right time."
Now, unfortunately, the only person more surprised by the pick than Landes? Don Muhlbach. For those who don't know, Muhlbach is the Lions' current long-snapper and has been with the team since 2004.