Lions fans know better than most the difficultly of losing a star player early, and are watching another one of their franchise record holders walk away from the game at a young age, as star wide receiver Calvin Johnson announced his retirement on Tuesday.
The Lions have a huge hole to fill on the offensive side of the ball with Johnson's retirement, and will be looking to add at least one weapon for quarterback Matthew Stafford prior to the 2016 season. The Lions will clearly miss Johnson next season as they finished with the ninth best passing offense in the league in 2015 in terms of yards per game.
Replacing a future Hall of Famer is a difficult task for any player, but the Lions front office is looking to fill the hole quickly and is reportedly going to sign free agent wide receiver Marvin Jones. The deal will not become official until after 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday, as that is officially when the 2016 league year begins.
Jones clearly has big shoes to fill in Detroit, but has never been the top receiver for an NFL franchise and will have to prove he can get open against top NFL corners. He put up strong numbers in Cincinnati last season, recording 65 receptions for 816 yards and four touchdowns. The 6-foot-2, 198-pound receiver will be a strong redzone target for Stafford in 2016, and is still developing as an NFL receiver as he turns 26 years old this March.
Jones is considered one of the top free agents on the market, and some believe he is the best free agent at the wide receiver position. Newly appointed Lions general manager Bob Quinn is looking to change the culture within the Lions franchise and to build Detroit into a consistent contender in the NFC North.
The Lions have not won a playoff game since 1991, and while they have lost arguably their most dynamic playmaker this offseason, expect Quinn and the Lions front office to build a strong foundation in Detroit. The Lions have reportedly landed their potential replacement for Johnson in free agency, but it wouldn't be surprising if Detroit's front office looked to target a receiver in the early rounds of the draft, as one player likely won't be enough to replace Johnson's impact on the offense.
