Fanduel
Log In
The Duel

3 Wide Receivers the Lions Need to Target to Replace Kenny Golladay

By Jason Schandl

Wide receivers the Lions can target to replace Kenny Golladay, who will not receive the franchise tag.
Wide receivers the Lions can target to replace Kenny Golladay, who will not receive the franchise tag. / Rey Del Rio/Getty Images
facebooktwitterreddit

One of the biggest questions of the Detroit Lions' offseason was answered on Tuesday when they elected to not use the franchise tag on impeding free agent wide receiver Kenny Golladay.

Losing their WR1 to free agency, especially with Marvin Jones still unsigned, threatens to put Jared Goff in an incredibly tough situation for his first year in Detroit.

The Lions need to bring in reinforcements immediately, and these should be their top targets.

Lions Wide Receiver Targets

1. Allen Robinson, Chicago Bears

The Lions should do what they can to sign Allen Robinson.
The Lions should do what they can to sign Allen Robinson. / Quinn Harris/Getty Images

The other big-name WR that joins Golladay on the market (especially now that Chris Godwin has been franchise tagged) is Allen Robinson. Cursed with poor quarterback play throughout his career (Blake Bortles, Mitch Trubisky, Nick Foles), Robinson has still been able to establish himself as one of the best wide receivers in the NFL. He dealt with some injuries, but in his last four full 16-game seasons he has eclipsed 1,100 yards three times and scored a combined 33 touchdowns. Robinson wouldn't just be a replacement for Golladay — he would be an upgrade.

2. Ja'Marr Chase, LSU

Ja'Marr Chase
The Lions could draft Ja'Marr Chase to replace Kenny Golladay. / Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images

Ranking below-average in available cap space this offseason, the Lions may not want to take the steps needed to free up room for a signing like Robinson. If they don't, incoming rookie Ja'Marr Chase would be the ideal fit. Chase sat out the 2020 college football season, but his 2019 numbers at LSU were absolutely absurd. He caught 84 passes for 1,780 yards and 20 touchdowns, and he did it while he was just 19 years old. Chase has WR1 written all over him.

3. Devonta Smith, Alabama

DeVonta Smith, Tuf Borland
Devonta Smith should be on the Lions' radar in the 2021 NFL Draft. / Alika Jenner/Getty Images

Going back to the cap space issue, the Lions' free agency plan should be "Robinson or bust." Spending big on a tier-two wideout like Will Fuller or Corey Davis would be the worst of both worlds — not giving them a true WR1 while tying up cap space in a player that is not going to turn them into a contender. So if they don't grab Robinson or Chase, it should be another rookie in consideration at No. 7 overall. Jaylen Waddle is getting some hype, but Devonta Smith profiles as more of a true No. 1 wideout. The 2020 Heisman Trophy winner just hauled in 117 passes for 1,856 yards and 23 touchdowns as a senior.

Sign up for FanDuel Sportsbook today and get your first bet risk free for up to $1,000!

Jason Schandl is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Jason Schandl also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username Jaymun. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in his articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.

Home/Buzz - deleted