Detroit Lions: Grades by Position Group

Aug 22, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson (81) during the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

Wide Receiver

Starters: Calvin Johnson, Golden Tate

Reserves: Ryan Broyles, Jeremy Ross, Kevin Ogletree, Corey Fuller

Practice Squad: Andrew Peacock

Grade: B

Last year the Lions get a solid C at wide receiver only because of Megatron’s presence alone. Without Calvin, they’d receive an F-minus. The Lions have so desperately needed a #2 wide receiver the past couple years and they finally went out and retrieved one through free agency, netting former Seattle Seahawk Golden Tate.

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With the First Pick

Behind Johnson and Tate there is a little bit of uncertainty at the position. Broyles was very impressive during the preseason, but I wouldn’t recommend putting all of your eggs in his basket after coming back from yet another significant lower-body injury. As for Jeremy Ross, he was the only other lock to make this roster due to his guaranteed role as the Lions’ return specialist.

Corey Fuller has come a long way since last year. As a sixth-round draft pick, Fuller struggled mightily during camp and was not able to get any separation from defenders at all. He made a strong case to make the final roster this year and obviously it paid for him.

You can really get a sense of how much deeper the position is this year when you consider the fact that Durham was labeled as the #2 receiver behind Megatron last year, and now you have Fuller (the sixth receiver) knocking Durham off the roster entirely.