Detroit Lions: 5 best individual offensive seasons since 2010

Kenny Golladay – 2019

Statistics: 16 games played, 65 receptions, 1,190 yards, 11 touchdowns, 18.3 yards/reception

Retrospective: The only Lion to make this list later than 2014, Kenny Golladay‘s 2019 season was one of the lone positives in Detroit’s worst campaign in a decade. One of the NFL’s rising stars, Golladay’s quick ascent to the upper ranks of NFL wideouts has been a promising development over the last three seasons, and his excellent output from last year lands him on this list.

Leading the NFL in touchdown receptions, Golladay emerged last season as a devastating downfield threat, a perfect fit in offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell’s offensive system. Separating from defensive backs is not his strongest trait, but as he showed in 2019, he can easily make up for it with his outstanding size and contested-catch ability.

This was no better evidenced than in the Lions slim home loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 4. Two of Golladay’s five receptions that day went for scores, both of them with Chiefs defenders draped all over him. He would’ve had a third touchdown that day had he not slightly bobbled the ball while hitting the ground out of bounds.

He followed that up with a 121-yard performance in a controversial loss to the Green Bay Packers. Two weeks later, he dominated the New York Giants’ defensive backs, collecting 123 yards and a pair of touchdowns. The next week, he celebrated his 26th birthday by abusing the Oakland Raiders’ defense to the tune of 132 yards and a score in another tough loss.

Perhaps Golladay’s most memorable moment came on Thanksgiving Day when he took rookie quarterback David Blough’s second-ever pass attempt 75 yards for a touchdown. It was the third quarterback from whom he caught a touchdown pass in 2019, the first time a Lions receiver had done that since 2010.

Golladay, who could be the recipient of a substantial contract extension at some point this offseason, put together a tremendous 2019, despite a revolving door at quarterback and an injury-plagued supporting pass-catching corps. The best may be yet to come as well.