Detroit Lions: Predictions for five important free agents

Marvin Jones

Position: Wide Receiver
Age: 30
2020 statistics: 16 games played, 76 receptions, 978 yards, 9 touchdowns
2020 base salary: $6.5 million

Former Lions general manager Bob Quinn signed many bad contracts during his 4.5 seasons with the team. Marvin Jones’ wasn’t one of them, and his deal may have in fact been one of the best.

In five seasons in Detroit, Jones has never been considered one of the league’s elite receiving threats, yet he was a consistent performer and an absolute bargain at an average cost of just $8 million per season. In his time with the Lions, Jones climbed into third place on the Lions’ all-time touchdown receptions list at 36, and he also ranks in the top ten in receptions and receiving yardage in franchise history.

Many receivers at Jones’ age would have a hard time earning a substantial raise in free agency. However, in playing in all 16 games for the first time since 2017 and leading the Lions in most receiving categories, he proved that he still has a lot to offer an NFL offense.

Jones said as much to the Detroit Free Press in December, when he stated: “I think I’ve still proven my worth. And I think in a few months, you guys will see it will reflect that.” Though a return is not completely out of the question, this somewhat cryptic comment is hardly an assurance that he plans on being a Lion again in 2021.

His return would become even less of a likelihood should the Lions commit serious dollars to Golladay this offseason, and Jones could also look to join a contending team as he enters the later stage of his career. His time in Detroit was a solid run, and a great value, something of a rarity for Lions’ free-agent signings over the last decade.

Prediction: Jones signs a three-year, $30 million deal with the Los Angeles Rams