The good: The Lions’ pass game was a major factor in their explosive attack, which was among the best in the NFL this season. Detroit placed third in total yards and second in net passing during the NFL season.
Detroit had one of the most reliable and prolific receiving corps in the NFL, led by third-year wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown. With 39 catches on 73 contested targets, Detroit had the highest contested catch percentage (53.4%) in the NFL. They ranked third in yards per play (5.9), second in passing first downs (228), and third in completions of 20 yards or more (70).
With more than 100 catches, 1,500 yards, and ten touchdowns, St. Brown had an incredible season. At just 24 years old, he received his first All-Pro selection and is regarded as one of the greatest in the NFL.
Josh Reynolds and Kalif Raymond performed admirably throughout the season, and Jameson Williams, a second-year wide receiver, matured into a dependable threat.
The bad: This team’s inability to stop drops was evident in the NFC Championship Game. With 432 catchable passes, Detroit’s drop percentage of 5.6 was 22nd in the NFL.
Key stat: Detroit’s ability to get its playmakers in space is one area in which they are extremely dangerous. That applies to running back Jahmyr Gibbs as well as tight end Sam LaPorta, in addition to St. Brown and Williams from the receiving corps.
Ben Johnson, the offensive coordinator, is a master at finding players who are open in space and knows exactly what to do with them once he has them. Detroit was fifth in the NFL this season with 2,211 yards after the catch.
St. Brown had an incredible season, leading all league players in receptions with 100 yards, ranking second in receptions (119), third in yards (1,515), third in first downs (75), first in yards after the catch (677), and sixth in receptions of 15 yards or more (35).
In the NFL’s history, St. Brown ranks third with 315 receptions and seventh with 3,588 receiving yards over his first three seasons in the league.
Jameson Williams has progressed the most.
Williams’s season-ending position and his starting position can be compared to night and day. Considering he appeared in just six games as a rookie, we must keep in mind that this season was effectively his rookie year. Next, to start this year,
Williams had an impact player status by the end of the season. Every game, he was averaging more than 40 snaps. In the NFC Championship Game, he caught a touchdown and ran for a 42-yard score.
“I was so proud of watching him and all the plays that he’s had over this postseason run and the latter half of the season,” Raymond said regarding Williams. Because he was putting in so much labor, nothing he did was surprising. The amount of labor that he accomplished was quite astounding.”
Free agents: Donovan Peoples-Jones (unrestricted), Josh Reynolds (unrestricted)
Reynolds had a couple uncharacteristic drops in the loss to the 49ers but he’s been one of Detroit’s most reliable targets since arriving in Detroit. He and quarterback Jared Goff have great chemistry. Reynolds caught 40 passes for over 600 yards and five touchdowns this season.
Peoples-Jones was brought in at the trade deadline to add depth to the receiving corps and he ended up playing a big role as Detroit’s punt returner in the playoffs after Raymond suffered a knee injury the final week of the regular season. There’s some versatility in his game.
Draft: A team can never have too many playmakers at receiver, but adding one isn’t a top priority this offseason with St. Brown, Williams and Raymond all coming back. Maybe a big-bodied pass catcher would fit the room and add another skillset to the group.Draft: A team can never have too many playmakers at receiver, but adding one isn’t a top priority this offseason with St. Brown, Williams and Raymond all coming back. Maybe a big-bodied pass catcher would fit the room and add another skillset to the group.
This is a really good group of receivers entering the NFL Draft this season. NFL Media analyst Daniel Jeremiah recently released his Top 50 prospects list and 11 receivers are on it: Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr. (No. 2), Washington’s Rome Odunze (No. 3), LSU’s Malik Nabers (No. 7), LSU’s Brian Thomas Jr. (No. 15), North Carolina’s Devontez Walker (No. 26), Texas’ Adonai Mitchell (No. 34), Florida State’s Keon Coleman (No. 38), Oregon’s Troy Franklin (No. 39), Texas’ Xavier Worthy (No. 43), Georgia’s Ladd McConkey (No. 44) and Western Kentucky’s Malachi Corley (No. 50).
