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Top 5 former Detroit Lions to watch on Wild Card Weekend

By Brad Berreman

Nov 24, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson (87) celebrates his touchdown against the New England Patriots during the second quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 24, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson (87) celebrates his touchdown against the New England Patriots during the second quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports /
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Credit: Mitchell Leff/Getty Images
Credit: Mitchell Leff/Getty Images /

5. New York Giants WR Kenny Golladay

Perhaps the best free agent decision Lions general manager Brad Holmes has made so far in his tenure was on Golladay. The Lions did not franchise tag him in 2021, and as an easy tentacle of that they weren’t going to pony up to keep him.

The Giants of course give Golladay a sizeable contract (four years, $72 million), and they’ve done nothing but regret it since. 2021 was undeniably bad (37 receptions for 521 yards, zero touchdowns), and this season has been undeniably worse (six catches for 81 yards and a touchdown in 12 games). Lunimaries like David Sills, Richie James and eventually Isaiah Hodgins have usurped him in New York’s wide receiver pecking order.

Golladay’s heaviest workload of the season came in Week 18 against the Philadelphia Eagles. He played every offensive snap (63), and caught a touchdown in a game the Giants rested their starters with nothing to gain for their playoff seed. He played 43 snaps against the Lions in Week 11, and played a total of 40 snaps over five games between then and Week 18.

The biggest thing to watch with Golladay on Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings will be his snap count. He’s the Giants’ WR4 if everyone is healthy or not being rested, which means he doesn’t play a lot with residual lack of opportunity.

Assuming he’s in uniform, and he should be, Sunday may be Golladay’s last game as a Giant. It won’t be great to do ($14.7 million dead money hit with $6.7 million in cap savings, according to Over The Cap), but they have the cap space to part ways and GM Joe Schoen was not the one who made the mistake to sign him.

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