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The Detroit Lions could be in the market for another wide receiver, as the team lacks high-end talent and production at the position group outside of Amon-Ra St.Brown and Jameson Williams.
Tim Patrick is a serviceable No.3 wide receiver, but if general manager Brad Holmes wants to acquire another playmaker for quarterback Jared Goff, Sports Illustrated’s Christian Booher believes Detroit should sign free agent receiver Tyler Lockett.
“Lockett is one of the most productive wide receivers still on the board, and could be a big weapon for Detroit’s offense. Most of his production has come from the slot, which is a position that Amon-Ra St. Brown currently handles for the Lions. However, St. Brown has the versatility to kick outside in the event that the team were to add Lockett. He’d be worth a shot on a one-year contract that would allow the Lions to see if they could maximize his talent in his age-33 season,” Booher wrote.
Lockett was released by the Seattle Seahawks on Mar. 5 after spending ten seasons with the franchise. The 32-year-old is coming off a down year, as he hauled in just 49 receptions for 600 yards and two touchdowns in 17 games in 2024.
Though Lockett is getting older and had an underwhelming campaign last year, the former Kansas State standout posted four straight seasons with over 1,000 yards and eight touchdowns from 2019 to 2022 and also tallied 79 receptions for 894 yards and five touchdowns in 2023.
With a change of scenery and fresh approach, Lockett could be in for a bounce-back season, and the Lions should look to sign him. The 2015 first-team All-Pro selection would be a solid security blanket for Goff and could elevate Detroit’s offense to the next level.
Additionally, Lockett will be cheap to sign, as Spotrac projects the veteran will land a one-year deal worth $7.7 million. According to Over the Cap, the Lions sit with $52.8 million in cap space.
Though Lockett and St.Brown have similar playstyles and may not mesh well together, adding the former Seahawk to John Morton’s unit would give Detroit fantastic depth at receiver and a battle-tested player who is also a tremendous leader.