Allen Park — Let’s be clear from the jump: The news Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams will be suspended the first six games of the season is an unequivocal gut punch. But it is not back-breaking, and in no way should it alter the franchise’s goals and aspirations of claiming its first division title in three decades.
To be fair, there is not a one-to-one replacement for Williams’ playmaking ability on Detroit’s roster. Heck, there are only a handful of guys with his elite speed and physical gifts across the entire league. As it stands, the team will have to find a way to expand the roles and production of its top four veterans: Amon-Ra St. Brown, Marvin Jones, Josh Reynolds and Kalif Raymond.
Raymond, who has been a steady contributor the past two seasons in Detroit, figures to benefit the most. He’s coming off a year where he caught 47 passes for a career-high 616 yards, while demonstrating some of the field-stretching ability that makes Williams such a threat. Raymond hauled in six of his 11 targets of 20 or more yards beyond the line of scrimmage last season, second on the roster to DJ Chark’s seven.
Jones, Reynolds and St. Brown have been lesser vertical threats in recent years. Jones hauled in just three of 22 deep targets for Jacksonville last season, while Reynolds matched that number of catches with half as many targets. St. Brown has stated he’d like to be more involved in the downfield passing game this season, something offensive coordinator Ben Johnson has acknowledged, and Williams’ suspension could increase the urgency.
Beyond those four, the Lions’ depth chart remains both open and uninspiring. Two options who could have stepped up, Quintez Cephus and Stanley Berryhill, were also suspended by the league for gambling. Cephus, because he bet on NFL games, has been banned indefinitely and subsequently released by the Lions. Detroit’s other receivers under contract include Trinity Benson, Maurice Alexander and Tom Kennedy. That trio has combined for just 24 receptions during their careers.
That brings us to the final part of the equation potentially impacted by the Williams news — the possibility of adding a receiver in the draft.
Before the suspensions came down, wide receiver wasn’t viewed as a significant priority for the Lions, despite some long-term instability with the position group. Now there’s immediate value in adding capable depth.
Detroit holds five of the first 81 picks, and even though analysts have labeled this class of pass-catching prospects as underwhelming, there’s a strengthened case for the Lions to target adding a receiver in the first three rounds, potentially as early as pick No. 18 if the available talent aligns with the front office’s pre-draft evaluations. It might be particularly helpful to add a player with kick return experience on the resume, to ease the burden on Raymond if an increased role on offense commands his full attention.
And even if that potential selection doesn’t wind up being needed during Williams’ suspension due to good health with the aforementioned group of veterans at the top of the depth chart, it would allow the Lions to get the newcomer rolling as a longer-term piece to the puzzle, given contracts for Reynolds, Raymond and Jones are all set to expire at the end of this season.
Yes, the Lions can do nothing at the position and maybe end up no worse for wear through Williams’ six-game absence. But there is an emerging opportunity for GM Brad Holmes to be forward-thinking in the way he reacts to this disappointing news.
jdrogers@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @Justin_Rogers