Out of all the position groups that Detroit Lions fans are concerned about for next season, the wide receiver room may rank at the bottom. Especially after seeing the impressive plays Jameson Williams has been making throughout training camp, the Lions' WR rotation will be one of their biggest strengths next season. Not many teams have a trio as explosive and talented as the Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Isaac TeSlaa group.
However, the position group is still not without its intrigue. Outside the top three receivers, the Lions have a ton of capable options trying to make the final roster.
On Tuesday, head coach Dan Campbell called the WR corps, "the best receiver room we've had since I've been here in camp, top to bottom,' per Tim Twentyman of Lions.com.
Campbell then added, "I mean, those guys are gifted. It's a really good crew, man. They're all pretty tough, they're all a little bit different the way they're built. And every one of those guys has flashed on one day or another, has done something pretty damn good. So, man, honestly, this thing's up for grabs."
This suggests a wide open race for the next couple of spots on the 53-man roster.
Special teams and preseason will determine the Lions' WR rotation
Greg Dortch has the inside track to be the WR4. Not only because he is familiar with Drew Petzing from his time with the Arizona Cardinals, but also because he is the most proven and accomplished option. Plus, Dortch has a ton of experience as a return man, and he will be the favorite to start the season on punt return duty.
Campbell also said that the receivers who can contribute on special teams will have a big advantage in making the roster. This gives Dortch a leg up over the rest of the crew.
Next up are Cedrick Wilson Jr. and Dominic Lovett. After Kendrick Law suffered a season-ending ACL tear, it's almost a certainty that either Wilson or Lovett will make the roster as the WR5.
Wilson is the more experienced option. He has been a reliable depth piece for years and brings versatility. He has split his snaps between the slot and the outside throughout his career. He is a decent route-runner and a willing blocker with good size.
After impressing in the OTAs and early training camp, Wilson connected with Josh Dobbs right away in the new quarterback's first practice snaps as a Lion.
Lovett has also been trending up over the last week or so. He is the younger playmaker with a higher upside. Whether the team will prioritize experience over upside in the WR5 spot will determine who gets the job.
There is, of course, a chance that the Lions will choose to bring in six WRs. Plenty of teams do that. In that case, both Lovett and Wilson could be in, especially if they continue to impress.
The preseason games will play a large role in determining the fate of both players. Receivers like Tom Kennedy, Malik Cunningham, and Lucky Jackson will try to make their case in the preseason, but it's difficult to imagine any of them cracking the final roster.
Regardless of who makes the 53-man roster, the Lions are in a great spot in terms of the WR rotation.
Add us as a preferred source on Google