One of the most low key position battles to take place for the Detroit Lions this year was the long snapper competition between veteran Scott Daly and undrafted free agent Hogan Hatten.
And apparently, that battle has been decided: Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports that the Lions are waiving Daly and rolling with Hatten.
Head coach Dan Campbell made it quite clear during training camp that the pair were locked in a "real competition" for the job, and clearly Hatten did enough to earn the job.
"That’s a real competition," Campbell said of Hatten and Daly. "He did play linebacker in college. So, he runs pretty good, and he kind of has an awareness on the football, and he’s played some defensive snaps for us — a couple. We needed him in there with where we were at at linebacker to finish a game out. So, that’s what he’s got. Now it’s about, ‘Ok, well can you’ — and what we know about Daly. Daly has been able to snap consistently and under pressure, big games, different looks, handling the protection and the snap. So, that’s the next step for him. He has to be able to prove that he can do that with a rush on him."
The Lions originally signed Daly in 2021 as the replacement for long-time long snapper Don Muhlbach. He played in 42 games over three seasons with the team, serving as a reliable long snapper.
In 2023, Daly only played in eight contests before his season ended early due to a knee injury. He should land on his feet elsewhere. Meanwhile, in Detroit, the rookie will get the keys to the car.
