To say that the Detroit Lions have one of the most talented offenses in the National Football League wouldn't tell half of the story. Most of their players would be clear-cut go-to guys on almost every single team in the game.
That said, it takes a village to succeed in this game. This is a physical sport, and all players are always one snap away from missing the entire season. Depth is paramount to Super Bowl contenders, and the Lions won't be the exception to that rule.
That's why, as overlooked as Greg Dortch might be, signing him might be one of those minor but impactful moves. He's following offensive coordinator Drew Petzing all the way from the desert, so he should have a role in 2026. Considering that, ESPN's Bill Barnwell included him in his All-Backup Team for next season:
"The 5-foot-7 Dortch wasn't able to persuade the Cardinals to put him on the field for significant stretches of time, but he has been a reliable pair of hands out of the slot, dropping just three of his 142 targets over the past four seasons. Dortch can also back up Chimere Dike on punt and kick returns, providing some much-needed depth at returner," wrote Barnwell.
Greg Dortch was the Detroit Lions' most underrated addition
The fact that Petzing liked him enough to bring him with him after their Arizona Cardinals tenure should be an exciting prospect. His size might limit him to a slot role, and there won't be that many touches available there in Detroit, but he should still find ways to get on the field and make an impact.
The Lions already have two superstar-caliber wide receivers in Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams. Isaac TeSlaa might be next in line, and he showed strong flashes as a rookie, but Dortch should be the first guy off the bench.
With Kalif Raymond no longer in the picture, the Lions could use another speedy and twitchy guy for their special teams unit, and that's probably where Dortch can do most of his damage early on. He's coming off returning 31 kickoffs for 811 yards last season, and he's gotten better in that regard with every year.
The Lions' offense will be the unit to watch in Detroit next season. John Morton left plenty to be desired as Ben Johnson's replacement, but there have been positive reviews about Petzing and his creativity as a play-schemer and designer. He knows Greg Dortch and how to maximize his skill set, and he can use his speed to make the most of all the defensive attention Williams and St-Brown will draw.
Not all players are stars, and that's perfectly fine. Stars need those hard-working guys whose impact doesn't always reflect on the stat sheet but makes life easier for them, and that's what the Lions got in Greg Dortch.
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