Some NFL mock drafts indicated that the Detroit Lions would select a wide receiver in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Instead, the Lions did not choose any wide outs with their six picks in the draft this spring. Following that surprise, Detroit added two undrafted receivers, Jalon Calhoun and Isaiah Williams.
According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Lions signed Williams, an Illinois native, to a $225,000 base contract with a guarantee. This includes a $15,000 signing bonus.
Former Illinois WR Isaiah Williams is signing with the #Lions on a deal that includes a $15,000 signing bonus and $225,000 base salary guarantee, per source.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) April 28, 2024
#Duke WR Jalon Calhoun is signing as a UDFA with the #Lions, per sources. | @HeavyOnSports
— Matt Lombardo 🏈 (@MattLombardoNFL) April 27, 2024
With the acquisitions of Calhoun and Williams, the Lions now have 11 wide receivers on their roster.
Lions Sign WR Isaiah Williams to a Large Undrafted Free Agent Contract.
Williams may not have been chosen, but he will be paid as if he had been selected in the 2024 NFL Draft.
According to Russell Brown of USA Today’s Lions Wire, Williams’ $240,000 guaranteed contract with the Lions is more than double the standard deal for an undrafted free agent.
“That was basically the same money as being a seventh-round pick in the NFL Draft,” Brown said. “So for Williams to get the amount he got is a bit telling.”
Brown described Williams as a potential “steal.”
Williams was an important part of Illinois’ offense over the past three seasons. From 2021 to 2023, he recorded at least 45 receptions per season.
In 2022, he made 82 receptions for 715 yards and five touchdowns. Williams again had 82 receptions in 2023, but his yards per grab average climbed by more than 4 yards, bringing his total yardage to 1,055.
Williams also has 14 touchdowns in his last 37 college games.
“He can be asked to work across all areas of the field and has both gadget and punt return ability,” noted Lance Zierlein of NFL.com. “Williams is competitive and versatile but must prove he can play fast to become a WR4 as a Day 3 pick.”
The Lions have signed wide receiver Jalon Calhoun, who had a more successful collegiate career than Williams, despite not having a 1,000-yard season at Duke.
Calhoun had five seasons with at least 300 receiving yards in the ACC. In his final three college seasons, he had over 650 receiving yards.
His highest productivity came in 2023, when he had 62 catches for 873 yards and four touchdowns.
“Calhoun had a strong career at Duke, becoming the sixth player in school history to record 3,000 career receiving yards and the first ever to register at least 700 yards in back-to-back seasons,” Nathan Dougherty, the writer for Heavy, wrote. “Calhoun finished his collegiate career with 253 receptions for 3,026 yards and 17 touchdowns.”
Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Kalif Raymond, and Donovan Peoples-Jones are most likely the top four receivers on Detroit’s depth chart. On April 24, the Lions signed St. Brown to a more than $120 million contract deal.
However, the Lions were indicated as a club to target a receiver early in the NFL draft since they could use more wideout depth. Detroit also needs to replace departed free agent receiver Josh Reynolds, who signed with the Denver Broncos.
Williams and Calhoun are unlikely to be part of Detroit’s plans to replace Reynolds’ production. But they could be in-depth solutions.
The Lions’ current receivers include Tom Kennedy, Daurice Fountain, Maurice Alexander, and Tre’Quan Smith.
