SPORTS

Lions pick Miami (Fla.) QB Brad Kaaya in Round 6 of NFL draft

Dave Birkett
Detroit Free Press
Miami quarterback Brad Kaaya

Detroit Lions general manager Bob Quinn has a philosophy when it comes to drafting quarterbacks.

“It’s a premium position,”’ Quinn said at his predraft news conference last week. “Not to say that we’re taking one every year, but we evaluate the quarterback position thoroughly every year. So (drafting one is) something that we may or may not do.”

The Lions drafted a late-round quarterback for the second straight season today, taking Miami (Fla.) underclassman Brad Kaaya with the 215th overall pick in the sixth round.

Kaaya was a three-year starter at Miami who most projected as a middle-round pick.

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He threw for more than 9,600 yards and 69 touchdowns at Miami, and should compete for the backup quarterback job with Jake Rudock this year.

Rudock, a sixth-round pick out of Michigan last year, spent most of last season on the practice squad but drew praise from Lions coach Jim Caldwell and others for his studious approach.

He joined the 53-man roster in November, after the Chicago Bears tried signing him to a contract.

Kaaya’s mother, Angela Means, is an actress and comedian who’s best known for playing the role of Felisha in the movie “Friday.”

Contact Dave Birkett: dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett. Download our Lions Xtra app for free on Apple and Android!