The Detroit Lions are in need of a pass catching tight end. Is the Motor City a possible landing spot for recently released free agent Antonio Gates?
For many Detroit Lions‘ fans, the release of tight end Eric Ebron earlier this year has been a long time coming. To say the former first round pick underwhelmed during in his time in the Motor City would be an understatement.
The fact Ebron was selected 10th overall, in front of players like the Tennessee Titans’ offensive tackle Taylor Lewan, the New York Giants’ wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., and St. Louis Rams’ defensive tackle Aaron Donald only makes the sting of his bust more painful.
With Ebron now gone, the Lions face a whole new dilemma. Who will become quarterback Matthew Stafford‘s new release valve? Who would become his newest end zone target?
The obvious choice would have been tight end Darren Fells, who showed talent as a receiver on top of being an excellent blocker. Unfortunately, the Lions allowed Fells to leave via free agency.
That meant Detroit’s tight end depth chart included 2017 fourth round rookie Michael Roberts, and relative unknowns Hakeem Valles and Brandon Barnes. Roberts was suspended for the final game of last season for essentially oversleeping. So, the Lions roster looked pretty thin of reliable playmakers.
In free agency, Detroit signed veteran tight ends Luke Willson and Levine Toilolo. Both players are better blockers than receivers. And during last week’s draft, the Lions failed to address the position at all.
So, there is an obvious need for a receiving tight end on this Lions roster. And luckily for Detroit, one of the greatest tight ends in NFL history was recently released into free agency. That player being former Los Angeles Chargers tight end Antonio Gates.
What the Lions need is a bridge player at the position. Someone not looking for more than a one-year, team-friendly contract with a history of success in the league. That player is the 37-year old Gates. For the past two seasons, the eight-time Pro Bowler was being phased out of the Chargers’ offense to make way for Hunter Henry. But I believe Gates still has something left in the tank.
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Antonio Gates would be a perfect fit in Detroit as the wily veteran who can still get open when Matthew Stafford needs him to. Plus the 6-foot-4, 255 pound former basketball player can still block out defenders and rebound touchdown passes in the endzone with the best of them. Again, Gates would only be a bridge player as tight end becomes a big draft need for Detroit in 2019.