It didn’t take long for the Detroit Lions to decide on the future of offensive coordinator John Morton, relieving him of his duties on Tuesday. His future with the team was seemingly over once head coach Dan Campbell took over playcalling duties in mid-November, but even that couldn't fill the void of former offensive coordinator Ben Johnson.
Although Morton’s play calling was heavily criticized, the team ranked third in passing yards and fifth in points. While Morton was disappointing with the Lions, he’ll likely be given another opportunity to call plays with the numerous firings across the league these past few days.
If this is the case, Morton will likely call up these three Lions free agents to follow him on his new team.
1. WR Kalif Raymond
For the last two seasons, Kalif Raymond hasn’t had much of a role in the Lions’ passing attack. With the Lions prioritizing getting Isaac TeSlaa more involved, combined with the bulk of the receiving targets going to Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, and Jahmyr Gibbs, Raymond has become an afterthought for the Lions.
Despite this, Raymond was still a solid contributor this season. Although he logged just 24 receptions for 289 yards and one touchdown, he remained a vital piece to their special teams as a punt returner. While his punt return average dropped to just seven and a half yards, he still managed to return one of his punts for a touchdown.
Even though Raymond will be 32 years old at the start of next season, he’s proven he’s capable of being a third option at receiver and a viable punt returner. Since the Lions' receiver room is already crowded with depth and is moving towards adding more youth at the position, Raymond’s tenure with the team is likely over.
That doesn't mean he won't be a perfect addition wherever Morton goes, considering he’s already familiar with his play-calling and will likely receive more playing time.
2. TE Shane Zylstra
Throughout Shane Zylstra’s five-year tenure with the Lions, he hasn’t been much of a factory. With Sam LaPorta and Brock Wright in the picture, he’s served as a third-string backup with scarce opportunity to shine. But with LaPorta and Wright both sustaining injuries, Zylstra finally got some snaps.
Although he didn’t stand out as a downfield option during this four-game stretch, recording just three receptions on five targets for 20 yards, he proved to be formidable as both a run and pass blocker. While tight ends today are tasked with becoming quality receiving options, quality blocking is still essential to the position.
Since Zylstra does a fine job in this area, expect Morton to pursue him wherever he goes. Besides the locker room and recent team success, there’s little reason for Zylstra to return. With Morton, Zylstra can be given an increased workload with consistent reps.
3. OG Kayode Awosika
Just like Zylstra, Kayode Awosika has seen minimal opportunity in his four-year tenure with the Lions. However, numerous injuries to the offensive line thrust Awosika to start four games at left guard. Awosika didn’t stand out, but he wasn’t bad either, earning a 57.9 overall grade per Pro Football Focus.
For Morton, signing Awosika would be a smart choice considering seasoned, reliable depth at the offensive line remains a premium. With Awosika’s versatility, Morton could plug him at either guard spot or right tackle, as he played 22 snaps there this season.
Awosika has been competent when called upon and should be willing to leave the Lions for a starting job. Since the Lions had struggled with numerous losses and injuries to the line this season, losing Awosika would be a huge blow to their depth.