For reasons that are wholly unrelated to his two critical drops in the NFC Championship Game loss to the San Francisco 49ers, or perceptions of his response to the rough game, it has seemed very likely Josh Reynolds would be leaving the Detroit Lions in free agency.
When it gets down to it, another team may be able to give Reynolds a bigger role next season, if not more money over a multi-year deal as well. As the third week of free agency gets rolling, he has one reported free agent visit (with the Baltimore Ravens). Not that his market was going to be massive, but it was safe to think Reynolds would have more interest out there.
Reynolds has been a solid player for the Lions over two-and-half seasons. He is also clearly a culture fit, as head coach Dan Campbell has given him a long list of nicknames and he played through what seemed to be a pretty severe injury for a stretch. In last year's regular season finale, an effort was made to get him over 600 yards for the season and to a $250,000 contract incentive.
Lions leaving door open to re-signing Josh Reynolds
At the league meetings Tuesday morning, via Justin Rogers of the Detroit News, Campbell said the Lions have maintained contact with Reynolds.
"Look, we’re still in contact with J-Rey," Campbell said. "I don’t think it’s a secret what we think about him as far as type of player he is; the unselfishness, the dirty work, the versatility. Look, I love J-Rey and that doesn’t mean something won’t get done."
Later on Tuesday, general manager Brad Holmes reinforced the idea Reynolds could be re-signed (via to Pride of Detroit).
'He’s one that was part of the original plans,” Holmes said. “Still having dialogue, we’ll just kind of see where that goes. But that’s really the only one that’s still out there who was in the original plans.”
The re-signing of Donovan Peoples-Jones appeared to be an acknowledgement by the Lions that Reynolds wouldn't be back. Talking about Peoples-Jones, Campbell is confident a full offseason in the system will allow him to make an impact with a bigger role.
"He’ll have a better understanding of what we’re doing (when) we go into camp,” Campbell said. “And so I think what it does it just gives us somebody that we know can play the position. He’s a bigger-body guy, too, so he’s a little different than anybody we’ve got.”
In eight games for the Lions last season, after being acquired from the Browns at the trade deadline, Peoples-Jones played just 72 offensive snaps with five receptions. If Reynolds is not back, he has a path to a bigger role next season. If Reynolds is eventually back, the move to re-sign Peoples-Jones, within the idea he's a "rising player" now blocked from a full ascension, will look a little odd.