Green Bay Packers: NFC North WR grades and rankings
3. Detroit Lions
Though the Lions may not feature the depth of other NFL teams at wideout, their top two options at the position are a formidable duo in Golden Tate and Marvin Jones that can both break open ball games, albeit with diverse skill sets.
But while Jones went on a tear in the first month of his initial season in the NFC North, Tate couldn’t get out of his own way early on by running errant routes, uncharacteristically dropping lay-up passes and committing costly penalties.
The 5-foot-10 slot receiver had trouble adjusting to the new personnel around him particularly with Anquan Boldin in the mix, who essentially played the same role as an inside target who used his physicality to make contested catches over the middle.
Tate eventually got things turned around and went back to being one of the league’s most explosive weapons on screen plays. In fact, the eighth-year pro led the league in both targets and receptions on screens (33 of his 91 grabs occurred on those types of routes according to Pro Football Focus).
And in addition to exhibiting his trademark run-after-catch skills that greatly contributed to his second career 1,000-yard season, Tate finished the year as the Matthew Stafford’s most reliable safety valve by dropping only three of his 135 targets.
But while the one-time Seattle Seahawks’ second-round pick was able to right the ship in spectacular fashion, Jones all but vanished from the game plan after putting up the second-most receiving yards in the league (482) after the first four games of the year.
Detroit’s signature 2016 free-agent acquisition hit the skids over the next 11 weeks by gaining only 448 yards over that stretch. Making matters worse was Jones’ inability to score touchdown after Week 6 after hitting pay dirt four times up to that point.
While it’s nearly impossible to justify that type of dropoff for No. 11, his targets were down considerably in the second half (59 versus 44 after Week 8). But that was also due to Jones’ inability to alter his game to defenses suddenly keying in on eliminating the deep ball.
Will another year in Jim Bob Cooter’s system allow Jones to maintain a steady flow of production expected from a veteran pass catcher that was handed a 5-year, $40-million deal with $20 million of it guaranteed?
If nothing else, the Lions coaching staff should expect the 6-foot-2 Jones to serve as more of a red-zone target considering that he once scored 10 touchdowns for Cincinnati in 2013.
The fact that Boldin hasn’t been brought back means that 95 targets are there for the taking. There isn’t much in the way of proven talent standing in Jones’ way.
As for who will take over as Detroit’s third wideout, rookie Kenny Golladay could find himself in the driver’s seat if he continues to shine in training camp as he has in OTAs.
The 6-foot-4 rookie has been routinely beating veteran defensive backs in one-on-one matchups thus far, as well as flashing his running ability on in-breaking routes.
The fact that Golladay is coming down with one-handed grabs this early in the game is a testament to the young man’s sure-handedness that was further highlighted by PFF, which recently reported that he dropped only 5 of 165 catchable passes in his last two years as a collegian.
The 24-year-old T.J. Jones was brought back on a 1-year, $615 thousand contract, even though he did very little to earn it after showing definite signs of development in last year’s OTAs.
After getting bumped from the final roster by Andre Roberts—who’s no longer with the team—Jones spent most of 2016 on the practice squad and was a non-factor in the few opportunities in which he was called on to play in multiple-receiver sets.
The odds are stacked against him with former Packer Jared Abbrederis on hand to earn one of the receiver spots, along with Jace Billingsely, Ryan Spadola and Keshawn Martin.
Abbrederis is a technically-sound route runner that has a propensity for getting open on short, quick plays, but has yet to prove he is durable enough to be counted on for an entire season.
The undersized Billingsley is a poor man’s Tate in that the second-year man is a converted running back who’s fearless and shifty will the ball in his hands. He led the team with 12 catches for 146 yards and two touchdowns in the preseason and has made strides as a route runner in the offseason.
Martin is a local guy that’s on the roster because of his return skills. He has some straight-line speed, but also has a history of ball security issues both as a receiver and on special teams.
Spadola is a longshot that’s coming back from a torn pec injury that landed him on injured reserve. He’ll need to make the squad strictly as a special-teams contributor.
Undrafted free agent Michael Rector is the type of athlete that can run past NFL defenders in a straight line, but is extremely raw and mechanical in terms of his route running. The fact that he’s a body catcher also works against him.
Fellow UDFA Dontez Ford is a 6-foot-1 ½” receiver that is quick and agile, but above all, tough in the way he boxes out defenders and fights tooth and nail for extra yardage. His lack of burst makes him more of a possession type in the NFL.
UConn product Noel Thomas Jr. made his share of highlight catches at the collegiate level, but had problems executing the routine ones. He has the ability to make plays in open space, but shows difficulty getting off the press.
All three rookies will most likely be fighting for a practice squad spot.
Grade: B-