Lions wide receiver unit ranked second worst in NFL

The Detroit Lions offense looks way different heading into the 2021 season than it did a year ago. A new quarterback, Jared Goff, and a wide receiving corps that lost its best players.

The Pride lost star player Kenny Golladay, Marvin Jones, and Danny Amendola, among others. New general manager Brad Holmes didn’t attack this issue though by going to get a star player to replace those players.

Instead, Holmes signed Tyrell Williams, Breshad Perriman, and Kalif Raymond in free agency. He then drafted Amon-Ra St. Brown out of USC in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL draft.

With all of those losses and additions, Pro Football Focus ranks the Lions receiving unit the second-worst in the NFL. Only the Houston Texans, a dysfunctional franchise at the moment, ranks worse when it comes to receiving corps.

The Honolulu Blue also has Quintez Cephus, Tom Kennedy, Geronimo Allison, Sage Surratt, Victor Bolden, Damion Ratley, Chad Hansen, and Javon McKinley to round it out at receiver.

Despite what does seem like one of the worst receiving corps in the league, it doesn’t mean the Lions won’t have a good offense. There’s no guarantee they will be good, but there is reason to think they could be even with a drop-off at wide receiver.

New head coach Dan Campbell has made it pretty clear the Lions are going to be able to run the ball well, that who Campbell is, a hard-nosed, tough guy. With that offensive approach, the not as talented, young wide receiver unit, won’t be asked to do as much as before.

Detroit fans, when the Lions’ offense jogs onto the field, go to the fridge, and grab a beer, it is going to be a long drive. This offense is not going to score fast. They will be a run-first offense and will only throw when the run game allows them to. They will have long drives that eat up a lot of time and hopefully result in touchdowns.

Jared Goff and this receiving corps, along with second-year running back D’Andre Swift could actually do some damage with this approach. The Lions will be looking for backs to emerge after Swift, as they will need someone else to carry the ball.

This offense will be boring, yes, but possibly effective. The most important thing is that when this receiving corps is called upon, they answer the bell because it could be the difference between a win or loss.