The Detroit Lions and general manager Brad Holmes have created one of the NFL’s most exciting young groups. Ahead of the 2024 season, there is true Super Bowl buzz in Detroit, following last year’s wild run to the NFC Championship Game — arguably the Lions arriving ahead of schedule, and thanks to the players Holmes and has added throughout the past three NFL Drafts.
However, even after signing quarterback Jared Goff to a massive deal extension worth $53 million per season, the Lions may still have a significant void to fill.
Detroit Lions pushed to add another wide receiver.
Despite Amon-Ra St.Brown emerging as one of the league’s most explosive playmakers, ESPN’s Aaron Schatz believes wide receiver is still one of the Lions’ most pressing needs. “Amon-Ra St. Brown is a star and was worthy of his recent huge contract extension,” Schatz writes for ESPN. “But the Lions are counting on a lot of hope following St. Brown. Last season, Jameson Williams had a negative DVOA with only 24 catches, and the organization hopes he can finally realize his potential as a starting outside receiver.
Kalif Raymond had a 37.4% DVOA on 44 targets last year, but he was an average starting receiver who will see greater use in 2021 and 2022. Donovan Peoples-Jones possessed surprisingly good advanced metrics in Cleveland but didn’t stand out last season for Detroit.
“Beyond those three receivers are street free agents Antoine Green, a 2023 seventh-round pick, and Tom Kennedy, a player who has been on and off the Lions practice squad for years. This would be an ideal landing point for a remaining veteran free agent receiver like Michael Thomas. As Schatz indicates, Thomas, Hunter Renfrow, or even Mecole Hardman could fill the void as dependable possession receivers with field-stretchers like St. Brown and Jameson Williams.
