Detroit Lions: Marquise Goodwin is dynamic enough to consider adding

By Bob Heyrman | Apr 21, 2020

(Photo by Bobby Ellis/Getty Images) /

The San Francisco 49ers are actively shopping a veteran depth wide receiver, and the Detroit Lions should do their due diligence and, at the very least kick the tires on making a trade.

Every one of the Detroit Lions receivers that will make an impact this season is entering the final year of their current contract. Kenny Golladay, Detroit’s top pass-catcher, is expected to receive a long-term extension, but the jury remains out on all the other receivers.

Golladay is an exceptional talent; after leading the league in receiving touchdowns last season, he’s sure to obtain a hefty pay raise, but what will that mean for guys like Marvin Jones and Danny Amendola?

Amendola was mulling retirement before signing a one-year deal this offseason with the Detroit Lions. There is a good chance this will be Amendola’s final season, but we won’t know for sure until next winter. Marvin Jones may price himself out of what the Detroit Lions are willing to spend for a number two receiver. He’s been tremendous in Detroit, although the last two seasons have ended on injured reserve. Injuries are the main concern with Jones; when he’s on the field, he’s extremely productive and one of Matthew Stafford‘s favorite/most trusted third-down targets.

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The Lions also have Geronimo Allison to a one-year deal to be the team’s fourth or fifth receiver this season. Deep-play threat Marvin Hall will have the first opportunity to be Detroit’s fourth receiver. If he can duplicate his down-field production from last season, Detroit’s passing game will remain dynamic.

That being said, the organization should at least kick the tires on veteran receiver Marquise Goodwin. Goodwin is small in stature but provides any offense with world-class speed. A laundry list of injuries has stalled Goodwin’s seven-year career, but the 29-year old still has the potential to be a valuable depth piece to any roster.

Goodwin has only played one full, healthy season; six others included various injuries. The 5-foot-9 speedster can be dynamic working out of the slot but can also excel with double-moves and ‘go’ routes along the boundary.

In 2017, Goodwin played in all 16 games with the 49ers recording 962 yards on 56 catches. Since then, he’s produced 581 yards on 35 grabs and five touchdowns appearing in 20 games making 14 starts.

Last season Goodwin became an afterthought in Kyle Shanahan’s offense before a season-ending knee injury. Shanahan hinted during the scouting combine that the 49ers would likely move on from Goodwin.

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Goodwin is under contract for the next two seasons carrying a cap hit of $4.9-million this season and $6.4 in 2021. The dead cap number in 2021 is a mere $625,000 (per spotrac), which makes cutting him easy if he doesn’t produce in 2020. The Detroit Lions are likely to target a receiver in the draft, adding Goodwin for peanuts (sixth-round pick?) will allow the Lions to continue to fill out their roster elsewhere with their draft choices.

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