2. TE T.J. Hockenson
Hockenson missed the final five games last season due to a thumb injury, and he was still no lower than third on the Lions in catches, receiving yards, targets and receiving touchdowns (61 receptions, 84 targets, 583 yards and four touchdowns).
Hockenson was targeted heavily by Goff early last season, with few better options as he drew plenty off attention from opposing defenses (see Hockenson’s contested catch rate).
The Lions have added not one but two downfield threats at wide receiver–DJ Chark in free agency and Jameson Williams in the draft. Working with Amon-Ra. St. Brown, who emerged when Hockenson was out last year, will also help Detroit’s 2020 Pro Bowl tight end have more room to operate.
1. LB Alex Anzalone
The Lions’ coaches clearly like Anzalone, and he came back on a cheap one-year deal this offseason. But for the most part his level of play last year begs to be usurped on the depth chart, and it just didn’t get done.
After signing Chris Board and Jarrad Davis in free agency, the Lions waited to the sixth round to draft a linebacker–though Malcolm Rodriguez is a very interesting player.
Anzalone’s hold on a prominent role in the Lions’ linebacking corps should be very tenuous, it just doesn’t seem like it is. So he’s not only a post-draft winner in Detroit, he’s No. 1 for the team in something besides missed tackles or missed tackle rate.