PFF names player who's most vital to Lions having an 'unstoppable' offense

The Detroit Lions had one of the NFL's top offenses in 2023, and they look to be just as good looking toward 2024. But success is not guaranteed, with change as a constant variable.

Entering the coming season, Pro Football Focus' Jim Wyman and Dalton Wasserman outlined strengths, weaknesses and x-factors for each team. The x-factor for the Lions is obvious.

"Outside of Amon-Ra St. Brown, the Lions are very thin at the wide receiver position, especially afterJosh Reynolds' departure. Their first-round pick from 2022 Jameson Williams has shown flashes of being able to be a playmaker in the league, but he hasn’t been able to put it all together for extended periods of time. He’s entering Year 3, so time is running out for him to become the impact player the Lions thought he would be when they traded up for him. However, if he reaches his potential, this already potent Lions offense could become unstoppable."

Already, Williams sounds like he is prepared to make a leap in his third season. Dan Campbell has been impressed with his work this offseason.

The opportunity is there for Williams to make an imprint on the Lions' offense this season, and that is even more true considering the evolution of the offense.

Jameson Williams is the x-factor to Lions' having 'unstoppable' offense

One of the biggest issues Detroit's offense faces is how to recoup production that was lost when Josh Reynolds departed in free agency. Offensive coordinator Ben Johnson is assessing the options to fill that void.

"He (Reynolds) was an explosive play waiting to happen. A number of his receptions were big plays for us, so something we've talked about with the skill group (is) those opportunities go elsewhere now and we need guys to step up and rise to the occasion just like he did. It might be someone that didn't have as much production last year, say an Antoine Green or a (Donovan) Peoples-Jones or some of the guys that we had on the scout team. Or it could be some of the other guys. It could be maybe another carry for David Montgomery or (Jahmyr) Gibbs, or it's another target for (Sam) LaPorta. It could be we might have to spread it out that way, so that's what we're trying to find out here this spring and in training camp. Not just who the guys are that we'll hang our hats on, but also how we distribute those carries and those targets as the season goes."

Obviously, Williams plays into that scenario. Theoretically, the Lions will be able to depend on him to step up and replace Reynolds' production. If he can take the flashes he has shown and become a consistent, reliable producer, the Lions' offense could find a new level.