Lucky Jackson is one of the Detroit Lions' most recent signings to turn some heads ahead of training camp this summer. The former UFL star just finished up his spring season with a championship with the Louisville Kings, being one of the key components to the teams' win.
Detroit also brought on Tarik Black, another key member of the championship-winning Kings. Clearly, the Lions are looking to add as much competition to their WR3 room, as well as to their special teams unit, with these signings.
Bleacher Report's Kristopher Knox agrees that Jackson could be a sleeper signing for the Lions this offseason, writing that Jackson is one of several UFL stars that could shake up NFL rosters in camp.
"Still only 28 years old, the 6'0", 186-pound Jackson may have some long-term value to the Lions as a depth piece. Detroit has also signed Kings receiver Tarik Black and Aviators receiver Tay Martin," wrote Knox.
Lions might have hit the nail on the head with Jackson signing
As Knox writes, the WR room for Detroit is quite stacked - Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, and Isaac TeSlaa highlight the positional group. So, it doesn't really feel like Jackson is a signing to shake things up there, as much as it's a signing to add as much competition as possible to their special teams unit and the WR3 position, specifically, following Kalif Raymond's departure in free agency.
Greg Dortch, Jacon Saylors, and Tom Kennedy are all great options for the Lions on that front headed into this season, but special teams allows for more versatility in the playbook. Jackson is a sure-handed receiver with plenty of special teams experience while with the Kings, and that has to intrigue Detroit as they've already had some success poaching similar talent from the UFL in recent seasons.
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The Lions' special teams last season was revitalized by the additions of Saylors and Kennedy consistenly as returners. Kennedy, especially, seemed like a revelation and as a player who had finally found his niche within the Lions' offense after years of seeking a consistent role. Jackson threatens that just a bit, but it's up in the air whether or not he's able to make noise in camp enough to push Kennedy, and Saylors, down the depth chart.
We'll see if he can live up to his namesake.
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