Notes: Brian Branch Among NFL Breakout Candidates

Will Brian Branch have Pro Bowl season in 2024?

Detroit Lions safety Brian Branch. / Kirthmon F. Dozier / USA TODAY NETWORK

Brian Branch made a strong impression for the Detroit Lions from his first NFL game in 2023.

In the regular season opener, he had a game-changing pick-six in the Lions' eventual 21-20 win over the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium.

Branch had 74 tackles, three interceptions and 13 passes defensed last season across 15 regular season games. After playing mostly nickel cornerback as a rookie, the Alabama product will be playing safety in 2024.

This has piqued the interest of many across the league, as it gives him the opportunity to make an impact in new ways for the defense. NFL Network's Peter Schrager had Branch as his fifth-ranked breakout player during a recent segment on 'Good Morning Football.'

"You're looking for a game-breaker? Brian Branch in year number two. Remember last year? They had all those rookies," Schrager said. "Brian Branch is gonna step up, and I'm talking Pro Bowl season this year for this guy out of the safety spot. Flies all over the field. One of Nick Saban's favorite players on defense that he ever had. Now Branch is gonna make Aaron Glenn's defense sing as he's the guy calling the shots from the defensive backfield."

#5 on @PSchrags annual Breakout Player list:

Brian Branch, DB, Detroit Lions @Lions @BrianBB_1 | #OnePride pic.twitter.com/tTqIPtkbwT

— Good Morning Football (@gmfb) August 23, 2024

Here is a collection of headlines surrounding the Lions ahead of their preseason finale.

1.) The Detroit Free Press published a 53-man roster projection analyzing the tough decisions the Lions' leadership faces.

2.) Detroit Football Network profiled rookie offensive lineman Giovanni Manu and the strides he's made in his development since being drafted out of the University of British Columbia.

3.) The Detroit News took a look at which players could fill the final five or six roster spots that coach Dan Campbell said were available this week.

4.) MLive produced a feature on Lions' fan Ryan Talaga, who's vintage car was utilized for the SI cover shoot and story featuring Lions players such as Jared Goff, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Penei Sewell.