Detroit Lions: PFF names Marvin Jones Jr. the top in-route receiver

Despite the Detroit Lions posting a disappointing team performance in the standings, one of their top receivers is getting some recognition for his play.

The Detroit Lions hired longtime New England Patriots’ Director of pro scouting Bob Quinn to be their new general manager in January of 2016. Two months later, one of the Lions’ top players, wide receiver Calvin Johnson, would up and retire at the age of 30.

Quinn was suddenly faced with the impossible task of trying to replace the production of a player who had posted 1,000+ receiving yards in each of the last six seasons, plus averaged nearly double-digit touchdown totals every single year.

Yet, the day after Megatron announced his retirement, Quinn and the Lions inked wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr. to a five-year, $40 million contract. Jones was a former fifth-round selection out of California in 2012. He had spent his first four seasons as a member of the Cincinnati Bengals playing alongside the likes of seven-time Pro Bowler A.J. Green and Mohamed Sanu, who was selected two rounds before Jones in the same draft.

In 2015, Jones posted a career-high 65 receptions in what was a contract year. When he joined the Lions, he wasn’t considered a number one wide receiver although he had the potential to become one. Despite the retirement of Johnson and the arrival of Jones, Golden Tate was expected to be the main receiving threat in Detroit. Jones figured to be a solid number two.

Along with the arrival of Kenny Golladay, a 2017 third-round selection out of Northern Illinois, the Lions’ trio of talented receivers was considered to be one of the best in the NFL. That same season, Jones would reach the 1,000-receiving yard mark for the first time in his career.

Last year, the Lions traded Tate away midseason, giving Jones an opportunity to fill that number one role. Unfortunately, a knee injury limited him to just nine games in 2018. Still, his play was good enough for Pro Football Focus to recognize the seven-year wideout as the best in the NFL when it comes to running the in-route.

Here’s what Michael Renner wrote on the football analytics website about Jones’s ability to run the in-route and make tough contested catches.

"“The dig route takes a special kind of receiver to run effectively, as it can lead to some crushing blows from safeties across the middle of the field. Jones was just that guy for the Lions this season, hauling in 10 of his 12 targets on in-breakers, with three of those catches coming from passes that were contested at the catch point.”"

It’s a small consultation prize following a tough season in Detroit. I know Marvin Jones and the rest of the Lions crew would rather be playing this Sunday than receiving accolades for a season that is in the rearview mirror.

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