One of the main position groups the Detroit Lions revamped this offseason is wide receiver. While Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams will continue to be the top two pass-catchers on the outside, the depth behind those two will look different next season. Isaac TeSlaa will be the third starter, and Lions fans are expecting a breakout campaign, but what the rest of the rotation looks like remains to be seen.
In fact, we can expect a tight training camp competition for the remaining roster spots. Dominic Lovett, who is getting counted out as a possibility to make the 53-man roster, has a real chance to earn his place with a strong OTAs and training camp.
Dominic Lovett has a ton to prove in OTAs & training camp
Greg Dortch is considered the favorite to be the WR4 as he was signed to be a Kalif Raymond replacement. His abilities as a return specialist and familiarity with Drew Petzing during their time in Arizona give him a leg up in the camp battle ahead of OTAs.
The Lions are also high on the fifth-round pick, Kendrick Law. The former Kentucky receiver stands out with his blocking, work after the catch, and return ability.
Just to make things even more complicated, the Lions just signed former Dolphins WR Cedrick Wilson on Wednesday.
While the fanbase and the organization are understandably excited about the shiny newcomers, Lovett shouldn't be dismissed.
The seventh-round pick in last year's draft, Lovett barely played any offensive snaps as a rookie. He saw 14 snaps in total in the regular season and was only utilized occasionally on special teams. But he could provide a different element to the Lions' offense than what he has shown so far.
Lovett is a prototypical slot receiver. His offensive snaps in the preseason last year almost exclusively came in the slot. He is an excellent route-runner, with good body control and solid hands. He can thrive in innovative, quick-passing offenses thanks to his ability to find space and create separation.
His ceiling is clearly limited. He doesn't have the size and physicality to succeed on the outside. But that is fine. The Lions have plenty of talent and burst on the outside, and can use Lovett only in specific situations.
When the Lions announced their 53-man roster last year, they had six wide receivers. The previous season, it was only four. So, Dan Campbell can be flexible about how many pass-catchers he wants to have on the active roster. This number will change depending on how the WR room does this summer.
Lovett may be facing more pressure than any of the other receivers on the roster. As a seventh-round pick, he is lower on the pecking order. But the competition against the likes of Law and Wilson isn't unwinnable. It will just take a strong showing in training camp.
Add us as a preferred source on Google