We are a long way from NFL training camps and even further from the regular season, but it’s never too early to examine and speculate about the Detroit Lions roster. Currently, the Lions have 90-players on their roster, and come September, there will likely be some difficult decisions to make when determining their final 53-players.
Previously, in this series of articles at Lions Wire, we rounded out the running backs group, declared a winner in the fullback versus H-back competition, and in this piece, we will explore the value of keeping a sixth wide receiver versus a fourth tight end.
Returning WR and TE starters
The Lions return all three wide receiver starters — Kenny Golladay, Marvin Jones, and Danny Amendola — and all three are expected to keep there starting spots.
At tight end, Jesse James technically started last season but T.J. Hockenson saw more snaps in 2019, despite missing the final five games of the season. Both return as the Lions top two tight ends, regardless of who starts.
Erik’s prediction: Based on contracts, roles, and talent, all five easily make the 53-man roster.
Key role players
He only played 127 snaps over nine games, but Marvin Hall was the vertical speed option the Lions offense had been searching for all last offseason. The Lions didn’t add another player with a skill set similar to Hall this offseason, indicating he is likely to return to his WR4/5 role.
Like Hall, the Lions don’t have another player like fifth-round pick Quintez Cephus on their roster. An inside-out option who will likely find success in the NFL as a big slot, there was a reason he was targeted in last month’s draft.
In a previous Establishing the 53 article, I laid out my reasoning for keeping Isaac Nauta as a third tight end/H-back option over Nick Bawden, citing positional versatility and health as difference makers.
Erik’s prediction: Hall, Cephus, and Nauta push the Lions pass-catching count to five wide receivers and three tight ends on the 53. Likely leaving, at most, one more skill player that could be added.
In the mix at WR6
With five receivers already locked in, the Lions final six rostered receivers — Geronimo Allison, Chris Lacy, Travis Fulgham, Tom Kennedy, Victor Bolden, and Geremy Davis — will be competing for the sixth wide receiver role. At this point in the offseason, you can probably cut these options in half, leaving the top-3 as realistic competitors.
Lacy and Fulgham battled all camp for a final spot on the roster with Lacy winning out, but only lasting two games on the active roster. He would join Fulgham on the practice squad for the majority of the year, but eventually, both were promoted to the active roster late in the season.
Allison was the Lions’ most notable free-agent wide receiver added this offseason, and like Cephus, he has inside-out potential, but they win in very different ways. His four years of NFL experience gives him a massive edge over Lacy and Fulgham.
Erik’s prediction: Allison is in the lead for the WR6 role but I am not ready to place him on the 53 just yet.
The wild card
A tight end in name only, Hunter Bryant (6-2, 240 pounds) is basically an oversized wide receiver who is a YAC (yards-after-catch) monster in the slot. Defenses will struggle to match up with him and Bryant has the potential to be a true wildcard in this offense.
Hunter Bryant has a starting spot in a modern NFL offense as a slot TE. Stud athlete, productive at Washington, and efficient.
Bryant had the highest yards per route run among TEs since at least 2014 per PFF (min. 250 receiving snaps).
Two big plays in a row here: pic.twitter.com/wFvtpEIe0x
— Hayden Winks (@HaydenWinks) February 3, 2020
Bryant gets knocked for his blocking — and rightfully so — but there is a foundation there, and with proper coaching, he should be able to improve his technique.
Erik’s prediction: If Bryant can prove his worth on special teams, he could lock up this final skill player spot early in training camp.
Conclusion
If the Lions are able to keep a WR6 or TE4, in my mind it will likely come down to Allison versus Bryant. Allison’s experience, ability to line up at multiple spots on the field, and contribute on special teams will be very appealing to the Lions, but Bryant’s upside may be too good to pass up.
At this point on the roster, the Lions are looking at a player who would likely see five to eight snaps a game, and would ideally someone who can give them an advantage every time they see the field.
Erik’s prediction: I’ll take the matchup nightmare, give me Bryant on the 53.