After being cut by the Titans, Robert Woods has fallen right into the Lions’ lap as a potentially ideal replacement for DJ Chark.
The Tennessee Titans took some big steps to get under the salary cap on Wednesday, cutting four starters, including wide receiver Robert Woods. He didn’t have a great lone season in Tennessee, with 53 catches for 527 yards and two touchdowns despite playing all 17 games.
Woods spent the previous five seasons with the Los Angeles Rams. His final season with the Rams was cut short by a torn ACL (nine games), so “Bobby Trees” is a little bit removed from his last fully healthy, productive season.
From 2018-2020 Woods averaged nearly 89 receptions per season (88.7), with 90 catches twice and over 1,100 yards twice in that span (both marks once in the same season). His quarterback those years was of course current Lions’ quarterback Jared Goff. And Lions general manager Brad Holmes and assistant general manager Ray Agnew, were in the Rams’ front office when Woods was there.
Over four seasons with Goff as his quarterback (2017-2020), Woods had 322 receptions, 4,070 yards (12.6 yards per catch) and 19 touchdowns.
Robert Woods might be ideal DJ Chark replacement for the Detroit Lions
Frankly, Woods enters the open market with his stock at a very low point. The Titans just didn’t use him ideally. So it’s hard to confidently know what he would have done if he had been used more according to his strengths, even coming off a major injury. That he played all 17 games and a 78 percent snap share is a point in his corner.
The Lions have a decision to make on free agent wide receiver DJ Chark, and it’s very possible his market gets too rich for them rather quickly. In some respect Jameson Williams is an internal replacement, who will help them decide to let Chark go if another team wants him for a lot of money.
Woods has been a solid all-around receiver in his career. His best years came with Goff as his quarterback, and as a piece of a very good offense. If Chark departs, the Lions may have just had a replacement option fall right into their laps as an ideal fit.