Detroit Lions: What to expect from Kenny Golladay in Year Two

After showing signs of potential, wide receiver Kenny Golladay looks to avoid the sophomore slump and contribute more for the Detroit Lions in Year Two.

After the 2018 NFL Draft, the Detroit Lions improved on lot of their position groups, including adding depth to both the offensive and defensive line, as well as grabbing a running back capable of starting in the future.

But one position group that didn’t need to be addressed in the draft was the wide receiving corps. Believe it or not, when it comes to wide receivers, the Lions might be the most loaded at the position than any other team in the NFL.

Last season, the Lions were one of the three teams featuring two 1,000 yard pass catchers in Golden Tate and Marvin Jones Jr. As impressive as that is, many teams have a great one-two punch at the wide receiver spot, making the Lions not that unique.

But what separates Motor City from other teams with elite wide receivers is the fact that they have a third wide receiver who has the potential to break out and take the next step in his second season in the league.

Historically, wide receivers in the NFL tend to break out in their second year in the league after struggling in their first year, learning how to properly run routes and compete with pro corners. To prove this trend, look no further than Pro Bowlers Julio Jones and Antonio Brown, whom both improved drastically in the second year, turning into the stars they are today.

Because of these trends, Lions fans should be excited to watch Kenny Golladay this upcoming season. I’m not saying he will be a Pro Bowler next season, but Golladay has the potential to break out in his sophomore season.

I’m not the only writer who believes in the former Northern Illinois Husky. ESPN’s Matt Bowen also faith in Golladay’s development, as he named the receiver one of his 10 rookies primed to break out in year two.

Golladay showed flashes of great potential last season. He only played in 11 games due to a nagging hamstring injury, but he was still able to contribute in limited action, catching 28 passes for 477 yards and three touchdowns.

Those stats are nowhere near pro-bowl caliber, and many rookies like Pittsburgh’s Juju Smith-Schuster outperformed Golladay.

But the stats don’t really do number 19  justice, as because of his great size and break-away speed, he always able to be a deep ball threat, taking the top off the defense and opening up the field for Matthew Stafford and one of the league’s best passing offenses.

The Lions’ coaching staff expect Golladay to make the next step in 2018 as well. Offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter is excited to see Golladay improve and make him a focal point of the offense.

"“Going from your first year to your second year in this league, you can make some real strides,” Cooter told DetroitLions.com. “Kenny’s got the ability to do some special things, and we look forward to him being a big part of our offense next year.”"

Now that he’s finally healthy, Golladay should be able to get bigger and stronger this off season. With a full year of experience under his belt, he should be able to shake off the rookie jitters and become a real threat for NFL defenses.

Golladay’s development, along with Tate, Jones Jr. and T.J. Jones (30 catches and 399 yards in 2017) legitimately give the Lions one of, if not the best receiving core in the NFL. With so much talent and potential, it’s getting to the point where nobody in Detroit really misses Calvin Johnson anymore

Next: Detroit Lions: 15 best first-round draft picks of all-time

Defensive coordinators in the NFC north won’t do what do with Kenny Golladay and the rest of the Detroit wide receivers this season. And by this time next year, I won’t be surprised if I’m writing another feature about Golladay, praising a potential 1,000-yard season with double digit touchdown catches and a postseason appearance.