As the first week of free agency has gone on, it was seemed more and more likely. Saturday's news Donovan Peoples-Jones has been re-signed all but confirmed it. Wide receiver Josh Reynolds, who has not been re-signed, will not be back with the Detroit Lions.
That may be a welcome development for some Lions' fans, after his two critical drops in the NFC Championship and perceived (and incorrectly perceived) laissez-fair attitude about his rough day in the biggest game of the season ("sh*t happens, man"). But Reynolds' most recent performance on the field is not enough to diminish his stock.
Reynolds has great rapport with Jared Goff, dating back to their days with the Los Angeles Rams, and his place as a culture fit with the Lions has been show by the litany of nicknames Dan Campbell has for him and the effort to make sure he got a contract incentive in the 2023 regular season finale.
But sometimes, things just come to an end. Reynolds' role in Detroit is in line to be reduced next season if he was going to be back, with the expected full emergence of Jameson Williams and the overall notion wide receiver might be on the radar early in the draft.
Other teams can surely offer Reynolds a bigger role than the Lions can, and maybe he can still get a good multi-year deal as he sits in a group of available free agent wide receivers that lacks certified star power. If the ship had not already sailed on his return to Detroit, it's well out to sea now.
As the second week of NFL free agency beckons, these five teams make sense for Reynolds.
5 landing spots for soon-to-be former Lions wide receiver Josh Reynolds
5. New York Giants
Alongside their general issue under center, the Giants have tried a lot of options at wide receiver and not found much consistency. Signing Isaiah McKenzie is hardly enough to address the issue this offseason, though a top-end wide receiver prospect could be on the radar with the No. 6 overall pick in next month's draft.
If nothing else, Reynolds would be a solid veteran for the Giants to add to their wide receiver room. He can be an downfield threat for whoever is playing quarterback, and he is a willing blocker. As noted by Desmond Novack of GMEN HQ, his overall Pro Football Focus grade last season (70.1) was better than most people think (and in the same range as Calvin Ridley, Tee Higgins and Brandin Cooks).
4. Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens won't be bringing Odell Beckham Jr. back, and even with the signing of Derrick Henry their offensive identity shifted to not be quite so ground-and-pound under offensive coordinator Todd Monken last year. It's safe to say their current wide receiver depth chart, this side of Zay Flowers, is lacking a bit (Rashod Bateman, Nelson Agholor).
With size (6-foot-3), downfield ability (15.2 yards per catch last season) and as a reliable chain mover (57 of 68 catches going for first downs over the last two seasons), not to mention at a bargain rate compared to their overpay of Beckham last offseason, Baltimore should have interest in Reynolds now if they didn't already.
3. New England Patriots
The Patriots are, or surely should be, in the market for a wide receiver in free agency. The prices for some options thus far, in free agency (Calvin Ridley) or trade (Keenan Allen) appear to have been too rich for them, so they're going to be picking from who's left. Kendrick Bourne, who they re-signed, is coming off a torn ACL in October with a goal to be ready for the start of training camp.
Money should not really be an object for the Patriots though, with the second-most cap space in the league as of this writing according to Over The Cap and Spotrac. Now wanting to part with draft picks in a trade, for Allen or even Stefon Diggs (should he be available) is on thing, but it's also fair to say their situation is not a great sell to prospective free agents.
As Reynolds continues to survey his options, New England stands to be among them. They should be more than willing to bring him in.
2. Pittsburgh Steelers
Trading Diontae Johnson to the Carolina Panthers has opened a void in Pittsburgh's wide receiver corps, and the subsequent signing of Van Jefferson is not going to fully fill it. Some other options (Tyler Boyd) look nice, but some writers who cover the Steelers are fully on-board with Reynolds as a prominent free agent target in the wake of trading Johnson.
Nick Farabaugh of Steelers Now especially sees Reynolds as an ideal fit for new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith's system.
"If you can find players who can do and be a strong, physical body over the middle of the field they are a fit for this offense. Reynolds has some sauce on his routes and can get open on those over routes and dig routes."
"In fact, that was his main route tree throughout his time in the offense and Jared Goff hit him on those exact two routes more than I can count. He fits this offense like a glove, and his toughness and productivity of play action speak to his skill set in making tough hand catches in those tight windows over the middle of the field. He feels like one of the best options of this group that can give the team a high floor while adding physicality in the run game."
The Steelers aren't in a great salary cap position right now, but they should be targeting Reynolds.
1. New York Jets
The Jets are firmly in the market for a wide receiver, with reported interest in trading for Keenan Allen and Jerry Jeudy that did not come to fruition, along with an upcoming visit with Mike Williams as the second week of free agency gets going.
ESPN's Rich Cimini has freshly reported general manager Joe Douglas is exploring the trade market, which includes Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins and 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk; to whatever degree either is available.
Beyond Garrett Wilson, the Jets' wide receiver depth chart looks more befitting of a CFL or UFL roster (Xavier Gipson, Jason Brownlee, Malik Taylor). Allen Lazard is a name, but he had a disappointing 2023 season (to put it mildly) and he is reportedly on the trade block (maybe they can get a bag of underinflated footballs for him).
Aaron Rodgers has openly called for the addition of a wide receiver. For as long as he's the quarterback, the Jets are in a win-now window and also beholden to pretty much whatever he wants; though adding a wide receiver should be obvious regardless of Rodgers calling for it.
Douglas has to do something to add a veteran receiver, and Cimini hinted at another pursuit of Odell Beckham Jr. after missing on him last offseason. But Reynolds can easily be seen as a better player than Beckham right now, and the cost might be cheaper.