Detroit Lions: Predicting the final 53-man roster for the 2021 season
By Bob Heyrman
Detroit Lions: Wide Receiver/Tight End (8)
- Tyrell Williams
- Amon-Ra St. Brown
- Quintez Cephus
- Tom Kennedy
- Kalif Raymond
- T.J. Hockenson
- Darren Fells
- Alize Mack
Yes, I predict that the Detroit Lions will cut ties with veteran pass-catcher Breshad Perriman after an awful camp. Perriman was slated to be a starting outside receiver opposite Williams with Cephus and St. Brown working out of the slot, but he’s failed to seize a roster spot.
Perriman spent a large portion of the summer on the sideline dealing with a hip injury. When he got an opportunity to make an impact and show the organization what he brings to the table, he continued to drop the football.
On the other hand, Tom Kennedy has been the most productive and reliable player at the position. At this juncture of Detroit’s rebuild, I don’t expect Dan Campbell to keep a player for the name on the back of his jersey, but someone who has shown they can help right now, but also with the future in mind.
The top two tight ends are easy to predict. Hockenson and Fells will be 1-2, but I feel the organization will elect to keep a third, and all signs point to Mack. Mack was buried on a Notre Dame roster and may not be as good of a blocking tight end as Fells or Hockenson, but he’s proven to be an athletic pass-catcher, and as his head coach recently mentioned, he’s got some sneaky speed.