Detroit Lions: 5 low-budget WR’s to target in free agency
By Bob Heyrman
The Detroit Lions have already begun their anticipated roster overhaul, some moves are approved, and others will become official seconds after the new league year begins.
One of the more glaring needs for this current roster is a new group of pass-catchers. The Detroit Lions are currently at ground zero of their rebuild under this new regime; both phrases we’ve become all too accustomed to in Detroit.
Newly appointed general manager Brad Holmes did not waste any time before putting his fingerprints all over the Lions roster, accommodating the best quarterback in franchise Matthew Stafford’s trade request. The soon-to-be 33-year old quarterback asked to be traded to a playoff contender, and Holmes obliged by sending him to the Los Angeles Rams from in which Holmes himself is very familiar.
The Detroit Lions received a pair of first-round draft picks along with 26-year old former first overall pick Jared Goff who will not only hope to play himself into the starting role for a year, he will get an opportunity to solidify himself as the starter moving forward if he can prove himself in 2021.
To give Jared Goff a fair shake in ’21, the Detroit Lions need to overhaul their entire wide receiver room.
With Marvin Jones, Danny Amendola, Mohamed Sanu, Jamal Agnew, and Kenny Golladay set to become free agents; the Detroit Lions need to add a plethora of pass-catchers through the draft and in free agency.
Recently the Detroit Lions signed Tyrell Williams, who I can see as a replacement for Marvin Jones; here are five other free agents to consider signing to a reasonable deal.
Josh Reynolds
How about a familiar face for Goff to target? The Detroit Lions could use the services of Josh Reynolds.
Reynolds is likely out in Los Angeles due to the combination of the NFL forced to lower the salary cap after the coronavirus-stricken season, along with the Rams having a plethora of playmakers are the wide receiver position.
Before last season, the Rams traded the often traveled Brandin Cooks opening the door for Reynolds to become the teams’ deep threat. Things didn’t quite work out as planned, but Reynolds did become a reliable third option for Goff and the Rams offense working behind Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods.
Reynolds provided head coach Sean McVay with a career-year making 52 catches totaling 618 yards and two touchdowns. Reynolds also had a catch rate of 64.2% during the 2020 season.
The Detroit Lions could potentially need to find two or three more starting options, and Reynolds can provide Goff with a familiar target, someone that can step right in and have some continuity with on offense.
I expect the Rams to use second-year receiver Van Jefferson to fill the role vacated by Reynolds.
Reynolds is a 26-year old, 6-foot-3, lean 195-pound route runner. Reynolds isn’t exactly a burner but ran a 4.52 40-yard dash at his NFL combine. He’d be a nice compliment to the newly acquired Tyrell Williams, who will provide the Lions with an outside red zone threat.
Through his first four NFL seasons, Reynolds has amassed 1,450 yards on 113 catches totaling nine touchdowns.
I predict Reynolds can be had for roughly $4 million per season, and that is exactly the type of contract the Detroit Lions will be looking to add during their rebuild.