Detroit Lions: Cole Beasley could fit nicely in the Motor City
The Detroit Lions need a slot receiver to take advantage of the underneath routes. Could that player be Dallas Cowboys’ wideout Cole Beasley?
The Detroit Lions‘ passing game simply wasn’t the same after the team traded away wide receiver Golden Tate last season. And although Tate is expected to be available when free agency kicks off next month, the Lions don’t figure to be in the 30-year old’s plans.
The Lions do have a talented group of outside receivers in Marvin Jones Jr. and Kenny Golladay. Jones is a seven-year veteran who is under contract through 2020. He posted 35 receptions for 508 yards and five touchdowns in nine games last season as a knee injury ended his year prematurely.
Golladay, a 2017 third-round selection out of Northern Illinois, turned a corner in his development last season. The 25-year old led the team in receptions with 70 catches for 1,063 yards and five scores. Golladay is the future of the position in Detroit.
Despite this talented duo, the Lions could use an equally talented slot receiver to help take advantage of those underneath routes which Tate made a career of doing in Motown. Wideout T.J. Jones and rookie Brandon Powell failed to really step up last season and fill the void left by Golden.
That fact could force the Lions to look to free agency to find themselves a talented slot receiver. And one of the best that should hit the open market next month is the Dallas Cowboys’ Cole Beasley.
The diminutive Beasley, coming in at just 5-foot-8, 180-pounds, is one of the best pure athletes in the NFL. On shorter, underneath routes, he’s practically uncoverable one-on-one. And with two outside receivers like Golladay and Jones attracting extra attention from the secondary, a player like Beasley could easily become quarterback Matthew Stafford‘s new security blanket.
Next. Top Five Video Game Detroit Lions of All Time. dark
Cole Beasley led the Cowboys in receptions back in 2016, racking up 75 catches for 833 yards and five scores. Last season, he posted an impressive 65 receptions for 672 yards and three touchdowns. Another possible landing spot for Beasley could be the New England Patriots. That might be just another reason former Pats like Lions’ general manager Bob Quinn and head coach Matt Patricia would want him in the Motor City.