One of the standouts from the Lions’ offseason work, including the three-day minicamp, was defensive tackle Caraun Reid.

Months ago when there was so much angst from so many about replacing Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley, Reid didn’t even seem to be in the conversation.

Now here are three reasons Reid could start:

1. With a good training camp, Reid could very well nail down the starting job alongside Haloti Ngata. Tyrunn Walker is in the mix too along with Gabe Wright. At the very least Reid will be in the rotation on Sundays.
   
   
2. Reid took it upon himself to build himself up physically after last season. “It’s an undertaking really that we hope that they all take on, trying to improve as much as you possibly can,’’ coach Jim Caldwell said after minicamp in June. “I think he’s taken it to the nth degree because he’s done a great job in terms of tailoring what he eats. He is very conscious of that. But not only that, he’s doing all the extra little things to try to get himself where he becomes a better performer.’’
   
   
3. Reid was drafted in the fifth round out of Princeton in 2014. He played in a dozen games as a rookie. Most of the snaps were on special teams so he has NFL game experience.

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