The Detroit Lions wide receiver corps is still a work-in-progress. What additions could be made in free agency to support quarterback Jared Goff?
Detroit Lions general manager, Brad Holmes, helped draft Jared Goff during his time with the Los Angeles Rams and looks set to continue the “Goff Experiment” here in Motown.
While Holmes has publicly admitted that knowledge of the quarterback class is vital to understanding the 2021 Draft and the value of their No. 7 overall, he has also not expressed any inclination to draft a quarterback of the future.
In this article, we’ll analyze the situation and ask: Does Jared Goff have adequate help at wide receiver for him to succeed?
First, the implication of building around an established player is considerably different than drafting a rookie quarterback. Jared Goff has been in the NFL for five years after being the number one pick in 2016. He is a known commodity and that makes finding pieces to go around him easier.
Simply put, Holmes knows exactly what Goff can do and what he struggles with but he also knows what kind of players complement Goff’s abilities. A rookie quarterback would create a process that would start with just the basics of professional competency.
With Goff, Holmes knows the answers and can get right to what is missing for Goff to succeed. The biggest question is: Can Holmes give Goff the receivers he needs to succeed?
Latest on Goff’s contract
As of Wednesday morning, Field Yates, an NFL insider for ESPN, reported that the Detroit Lions have converted $20 million of Jared Goff’s salary to a signing bonus, to free up $15 million of cap space for 2021. He reported that the move adds $5 million in cost to each year of Goff’s deal for the 2022-2024 seasons. This is a huge indicator of Holmes’ intentions for the near future.
The Lions have converted $20M of Jared Goff’s salary into a signing bonus, creating $15M in cap space for 2021.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) March 24, 2021
This move will add $5M cap charges to Goff’s deal over the 2022-2024 season, while Detroit gets operating room for the rest of this offseason.
It currently puts the Detroit Lions in seventh for available cap space at $26.11 million. Might some go to the wide receiver corps since they lack a number one target, with tight end T.J. Hockenson being the best returning receiver on the roster?