Lions still need WR depth ahead of what looks to be another deep draft class

ALLEN PARK -- Brad Holmes and the Detroit Lions have again done an admirable job filling their needs, sticking to the process that got them this far in three years.

However, one of the general manager’s key targets this offseason, veteran Josh Reynolds, left in free agency for a two-year deal with the Denver Broncos. The Lions already had a sneaky need for outside receiver help, so Reynolds’ leaving creates an even greater void as the draft sits weeks, and not months, away.

And while sending a receiver to the Lions at Pick 29 or in Round 1 in mock drafts from around the country has become more popular in recent weeks, this draft’s value at receiver could be found in the rounds outside of Day 1.

There are three undisputed names at the top of the prospect pool: Marvin Harrison Jr., Rome Odunze and Malik Nabers. But after that? Boards and rankings are scattered on the next crop of rankings past this year’s Big Three.

The Lions have Amon-Ra St. Brown locked in as their top option, with a beefy extension for the Sun God among their top remaining in-house priorities. St. Brown can do it all, but he’s proven to be an assassin from the slot, over the middle, and clicking on those timing third-down throws from Jared Goff.

Reynolds was a vital red-zone target for Goff over the last two-plus seasons in Detroit. The veteran wideout had 40 catches for 608 yards and five scores for one of the league’s best offenses last season. And while fans remain sour about his drops in the NFC title game, Reynolds was a glue piece here.

Jameson Williams is set for a larger role, no doubt. The 2022 first-round pick showed flashes last season, especially down the stretch. The Lions also have Kalif Raymond, Antoine Green and Donovan Peoples-Jones back for 2024.

Williams isn’t a physical outside receiver. He’s an elite burner and playmaker. Peoples-Jones checks a lot of those physical and athletic boxes on paper, at least. But his production has been hard to count on the last couple of seasons, with only five grabs for 58 yards in eight games in Detroit after coming over in a trade.

On that note, let’s leave what we know behind and look ahead to the draft fits.

ESPN’s Mel Kiper sent South Carolina wideout Xavier Legette to the Lions in his most recent mock draft. Legette is an obvious fit, even getting a separate write-up from this Lions beat writer from the week at the scouting combine.

But, to reiterate the previous point about value in this draft pool, few pundits and analysts view Legette as a no-doubt first-round prospect. The Athletic’s Dane Brugler ranks Legette 80th overall and 16th among receivers.

What does that mean? Well, it gets pretty subjective after those consensus top three names.

Legette is a 6-foot-1, 221-pound dynamo who ran a 4.39-second 40-yard dash and jumped 40 inches at the combine. He’s a special build and athlete who does things others in this draft class can’t. Also, he’s motivated to keep fellow Gamecock great Deebo Samuel happy on his quest to be a “YAC machine.”

Before the 2023 campaign, Legette had only 42 catches for 423 yards and five touchdowns in his previous four seasons. Last year, he broke out with 71 catches for 1,255 yards and seven scores, dropping only two balls on 97 tries. Legette rocked elite PFF grades against man coverage, and his size, speed and versatility could add a couple more pages to Ben Johnson’s enviable playbook.

Adonai Mitchell and Keon Coleman have also been mocked to the Lions by national analysts in recent weeks. Coleman would bring a new element to the red-zone offense with his size and hops after catching 11 touchdowns in 2023. Mitchell is another freak athlete with a 39.5-inch vertical and a 4.34-second 40-yard dash time at 6-foot-2, 205 pounds.

“I enjoyed that. They call it Keon County, so that’s like the dream,” Coleman said of his role at Florida State. “I ain’t lying to you. Just going there, my role was I’m going to be the guy that motions a lot, I’m going to get open, going to make the highlight plays and get the offense started.

“Whenever we needed a play, it was going to come to me.”

But let’s go down the board a little further away from those recognizable names before getting out of here.

Johnny Wilson is another Florida State wideout who is tough to ignore this time of the year. They don’t make many receivers who stand 6-foot-6, 231 pounds and can jump 37 inches with elite agility testing. Wilson also hit new heights with the move to Tallahassee after transferring from Arizona State. He caught 84 balls for 1,514 yards and seven touchdowns in two seasons there.

Wilson had five drops on 70 targets last season, though. And the Lions might not be in the mood for another young wide receiver with consistency concerns.

“Really, I’ve been a receiver my whole life, so I’m going to keep working at that and see what that takes me,” Wilson said at the combine when asked about any interest in moving to tight end. “No, not that I’ve met with (have teams been interested in that idea).”

Devontez Walker (North Carolina), Brenden Rice (USC), Cornelius Johnson (Michigan), De’Corian Clark (Texas-San Antonio), Jordan Whittington (Texas), and Joshua Cephus (Texas-San Antonio) are some names to track further down the board.

Walker might be one of the steals of the draft when all is said and done. He landed in Chapel Hill via Kent State, missed the first four games in 2023 due to the NCAA doing NCAA things, and then went off for 41 catches, 699 yards and seven scores in eight games. Walker has caught 18 touchdowns over his last 20 games between Kent State and UNC and fits the need for outside playmaking.

Rice, the son of all-time great Jerry Rice, saved his best season for last, turning 45 catches into 791 yards and 12 touchdowns for Caleb Williams and the Trojans. At 6-foot-2, 208 pounds, he’s built for the next level. However, some speed concerns in his game might need a game speed vs. straight-line rewatch for scouts/general managers ahead of the draft.

“It has its benefits and its minuses at the same time,” Rice said. “It’s just a blessing to have that last name, Rice, and know that people expect so much from you. I was able to take the work ethic from him, and each day in and day out, I’ve got to put my best foot forward and know I’m grinding toward something different, which separates me in this class of receivers.

“He (Jerry Rice) always said, ‘You’ve got a last name, so you got a target on your back. Make sure you stay in the moment and don’t make the moment too big. Don’t overthink, and you’ll be just fine.”

The Lions have been known to love former players for their coaching staff, and they know the situation at USC well, now three years removed from taking St. Brown.

That said, the franchise and Holmes have proven unpredictable in the draft. The general manager played into that reputation at last week’s annual meeting of NFL bigwigs in Orlando when speaking with local reporters.

“You guys know us by now,” he said. “We’re just going to pick the best player.”