Ranking the Detroit Lions best internal options to replace Josh Reynolds
His two critical drops in the NFC Championship Game had nothing to with his departure. But it was always inevitable Josh Reynolds would leave the Detroit Lions in free agency, and it indeed happened.
However peripherally he existed in the ecosystem of a Lions' offense that has become one of the league's best, Reynolds' role was an important one. 57 of his 78 receptions over two full seasons in Detroit went for first downs, he was very good against single coverage last year (and presumably before) and he had great rapport with Jared Goff. Those things are not easily replaced, and outside of Amon-Ra St. Brown the Lions have question marks in their receiving corps.
General manager Brad Holmes, while leaving the door open to an addition, expressed confidence in the current wide receivers after the draft. As did assistant general manager Ray Agnew. Not that the two highest-ranking people in the front office would say anything else when that topic comes up.
At OTAs this past week, offensive coordinator Ben Johnson reinforced the idea (and the challenge) of replacing Reynolds internally.
"That was eye-opening during the self-scout period, to be honest with you, was he was an explosive play waiting to happen," Johnson said. "A number of his receptions were big plays for us. So something we’ve talked about with this skill group, 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 Peoples-Jones or some of the guys that we had on the scout team...."
So barring something unforeseen, like a significant injury, the Lions are set to replace Reynolds internally. Let's rank those internal options. Jameson Williams, since he's the Lions' No. 2 wide receiver, will not be included.
Ranking the Lions' top internal options to replace Josh Reynolds
4. Tre'Quan Smith
After he barely played for the Denver Broncos last year, the Lions signed Smith to a futures deal in February. He started his career with the New Orleans Saints (2018-2022), where he overlapped with Lions' head coach Dan Campbell for three years.
Smith has an enticing combination of size (6-foot-1, 210 pounds) and speed (4.49 40 at the 2018 combine). His lack of top-end production in the NFL could be a product of opportunity (lack thereof), and the Lions could give him that opportunity.
That said, we have Smith as one of our Lions' cut candidates heading into the summer. On the opposite side of that idea, while acknowledging his shortcomings and challenge to crack the roster, Jeff Risdon of Lions Wire pointed toward Smith as a potential answer to the question of who'll replace Reynolds. That idea should not be dismissed in a competition for the No. 3 receiver that will be "may the best man win."