Examining three receivers that Brad Holmes could target following roster layoffs.
With just one preseason game remaining (Saturday against Pittsburgh), the Lions have failed to fix their receiving conundrum.
While the team has several qualified prospects for the “X” receiver position, Donovan Peoples-Jones and Daurice Fountain have not done enough to secure the job.
As a result, Detroit general manager Brad Holmes may be looking for a pass-catcher as roster cuts occur throughout the league.
If that happens, Holmes and the Lions might target these three wideouts.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Buffalo Bills
Valdes-Scantling is a big-bodied receiver (6-foot-4, 206 pounds) who would fit right in as Detroit’s third wideout.
Last season, he had 21 receptions for 315 yards and a score, and he has two receiving seasons of 685 yards or more (2020 with Green Bay and 2022 with Kansas City).
Notably, he caught a touchdown pass late in the third quarter of Super Bowl LVIII against the San Francisco 49ers.
According to The Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox, the Buffalo Bills’ crowded receivers room may cause him to be overlooked. Khalil Shakir is among the pass catchers, along with offseason acquisitions Curtis Samuel, Chase Claypool, K.J. Hamler, and youngster Keon Coleman.
If the Bills release Valdes-Scantling, Detroit should move quickly to get the veteran wide receiver.
Robert Woods, Houston Texans
Woods, like Valdes-Scantling, is an experienced receiver who would significantly improve the caliber of the Lions’ receiving corps.
Woods, who is about to begin his 12th NFL season, spent his best years as a pro with the Los Angeles Rams. This was when he played alongside current Detroit quarterback Jared Goff.
For three consecutive seasons (2018-2020), Goff and Woods connected at least 86 times for a total of 936 yards. Furthermore, in two of those seasons (2018 and 2019), Woods had more than 1,000 receiving yards with Goff throwing him passes.
As the data show, they had a fantastic chemistry with the Rams. As a result, if the Texans decide to release Woods, I believe he would be an excellent addition to the Lions’ roster.
David Bell, Cleveland Browns
Bell, the Browns’ third-round pick in 2022, would not be as appealing a free-agent acquisition for the Lions as the other two receivers described above.
However, if the Browns decide to split ways with the Purdue product, he would be worth looking into.
Bell, who ended with 1,286 receiving yards in his final season with the Boilermakers, will be just 23 years old in 2024. Furthermore, he has good size, standing 6-foot-1 and weighing 212 pounds, according to Pro Football Reference.
So Bell has upside and would fit right in with Detroit’s young WR corps. I just wouldn’t guarantee he’d knock over Kalif Raymond and former Browns receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones for the No. 3 WR position.
Even if Cleveland releases Bell, Brad Holmes should consider giving the third-year veteran a shot.
