The Lions plan to replace Josh Reynolds within, so let’s rate the top internal alternatives.
His two costly drops in the NFC Championship Game had nothing to do with his exit. But it was inevitable that Josh Reynolds would leave the Detroit Lions in free agency, and that is exactly what occurred.
Reynolds’ impact, no matter how peripheral he was in the ecosystem of a Lions offense that has become one of the league’s finest, was significant. 57 of his 78 receptions in two full seasons in Detroit resulted in first downs, he was very good versus single coverage last year (and likely previously), and he had a wonderful chemistry with Jared Goff.
These items are not readily replaced, and outside of Amon-Ra St. Brown, the Lions have question marks in their receiving corps.
General manager Brad Holmes, while leaving the door open to an addition, expressed confidence in the current wide receivers after the draft. As did assistant general manager Ray Agnew. Not that the two highest-ranking people in the front office would say anything else when that topic comes up.
At OTAs this past week, offensive coordinator Ben Johnson reinforced the idea (and the challenge) of replacing Reynolds internally.
“That was eye-opening during the self-scout period, to be honest with you, was he was an explosive play waiting to happen,” Johnson said. “A number of his receptions were big plays for us. So something we’ve talked about with this skill group, those opportunities go elsewhere now, and we need guys to step up and rise to the occasion just like he did.”
So barring something unforeseen, like a significant injury, the Lions are set to replace Reynolds internally. Let’s rank those internal options. Jameson Williams, since he’s the Lions’ No. 2 wide receiver, will not be included.
Ranking the Lions’ top internal options to replace Josh Reynolds
4. Tre’Quan Smith
After he barely played for the Denver Broncos last year, the Lions signed Smith to a futures deal in February. He started his career with the New Orleans Saints (2018-2022), where he overlapped with Lions’ head coach Dan Campbell for three years.
3. Antoine Green
The Lions’ final draft pick in 2023, Green played in nine games as a rookie (one after Week 9, before playing in all three playoff games), with one catch for two yards. Of his 106 offensive snaps in the regular season, 33 came in the blowout loss to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 7.
2. Kalif Raymond
Raymond became something of a forgotten man in the Lions’ offense last year (30 percent of offensive snaps). His physical profile and overall skill set is obviously not a replication of Reynolds, but there is definitely an opportunity for Raymond to re-emerge as a factor this year.
1. Donovan Peoples-Jones
Peoples-Jones was put behind the eight-ball when he was acquired by the Lions at last year’s trade deadline. He had to learn a new offense and get acclimated to new teammates in the middle of the season, and his learning curve was not ideal to seeing significant action for a team that was trying to win games and had high aspirations.
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