After ignoring drafting a wide receiver in the 2024 NFL Draft, and only re-signing Donovan Peoples-Jones in free agency, the Detroit Lions are still in limbo of what is going on at the wide receiver position. You have the locks on the roster of Amon Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, and Kalif Raymond, but the rest is a mystery on the team.
Throughout training camp and preseason, few have stepped up, but nobody has completely taken control of the third role in the starting lineup. While Raymond is a lock on the team, the coaching staff would prefer to use him in certain packages and not be an every-down wide receiver. Also, the team needs a big body wide receiver and Raymond isn’t that either at 5-foot-8.
Peoples-Jones has struggled to take over the role that was his to lose. Daurice Fountain has cooled off after an early strong start to training camp. Isaiah Williams has improved lately, but his build (5-foot-10) isn’t something the team wants, and if the team didn’t already have Kalif Raymond then he would have a better chance to make the roster.
With that, the Lions need to start looking elsewhere for help, and the best option for them is veteran wide receiver Julio Jones. While Jones is coming off the worst season in his career with the Philadelphia Eagles, he can still provide plenty for a team that needs some help at wide receiver. Here is why adding Jones could help the Lion's offense and give them another weapon.
Age shouldn’t scare you away
One of the biggest things people discuss about Jones now is his age. Jones is 35 and not what he used to be as a wide receiver. That said, he can still be a threat on the field.
Remember the last time the Lions signed a wide receiver past their prime? His name was Anquan Boldin, who at age 36, got 67 catches for 584 yards and eight touchdowns. It was the final season he played in the NFL and even at his age, he still helped the Lions' offense greatly that had Marvin Jones and Golden Tate and just needed a veteran presence in the locker room and on the field.
Jones's last two stops have been with playoff teams that had chances to win a Super Bowl. In his illustrious career, he has only played in a championship once when he was with the Atlanta Falcons, and might still want to take a crack at winning it again. The Lions are a Super Bowl team this year that could see Jones as the missing piece.
Contract friendly deal
Jones won’t be an expensive addition to the roster either. Last season, he signed a one-year deal with the Eagles worth $1.5 million. While he was signed in October last season, he might want around $2 million for a full season, which is more than doable for the Lions.
He isn’t trying to ask for a lot of money anymore, he got his big contracts years ago and knows he isn’t worth as much as he once was. The goal for him at this point is to win a championship and he won’t cost much to be a part of a team that can do that for him.
Fits the role
The Lions need a big-body wide receiver, Jones fits that at 6-foot-3. While he isn’t running far down the field like he used to, he can still run short routes and be used in goal-line situations where a jump ball is needed. He also brings a veteran presence to the wide receiver room that could use another veteran. Raymond (30) is the oldest in the room, and Detroit could use someone who has playoff and Super Bowl experience.
While Jones had 11 catches for 74 yards and three touchdowns last year in 11 games, I believe he could have a higher production volume in the Lions offense. With St. Brown, Williams, and tight end Sam LaPorta taking most of the targets, he could still be a threat the defense forgets about. Last year, wide receiver Josh Reynolds, the team's second option while Williams was suspended, was involved in the offense and had 40 catches for 608 yards and five touchdowns.
If Williams or St. Brown went down with an injury, Jones could step up and be a number two option. Jones overall is the best option for the Lions to sign and help the wide receiver room. His experience, cost, build, and ability are just what the Lions are looking for, and he could achieve that Super Bowl championship season with the Lions instead of another team.
