Detroit Lions face just 1 offseason question at WR

One of the biggest strengths of the Detroit Lions’ roster is at wide receiver. Last year, they were the only team with two wideouts who finished in the top-10 in receiving yards. With their core players locked up long-term, Detroit won’t need to overly focus on the wide receiver position for a couple of years. However, there is one big decision facing them this offseason.

Let’s get into it with our 2025 position recap and 2026 offseason preview.

Previously:

• QB recap: Jared Goff still in the prime of his career
• RB recap: Breaking down 2 huge decisions for Lions
• TE recap: 2026 is a pivotal offseason for TEs

Lions 2025 recap: Wide receivers

Amon-Ra St. Brown stats (17 games):

• 117 catches (5th in NFL)
• 1,401 yards (4th)
• 11 receiving TDs (t-2nd)

Jameson Williams stats (17 games):

• 65 catches (39th)
• 1,117 yards (10th)
• 7 receiving TDs (t-15th)

Isaac TeSlaa stats (17 games):

• 16 catches
• 239 yards
• 6 receiving TDs

Kalif Raymond stats (15 games):

• 24 catches
• 289 yards
• 1 receiving TD
• 32 punt returns, 241 yards, 1 TD, 7.5 yards per return
• 6 kick returns, 161 yards, 26.8 yards per return

St. Brown enjoyed his third straight All-Pro season, although he fell to second team this year. While he was near career highs in receptions and yards, one statistic hit a career-low: catch percentage. St. Brown only caught 68.0% of his targets this past season, which is way below his 73.7% average. Drops were an uncharacteristic problem for St. Brown. Pro-Football-Reference credited him with 10 drops, after he tallied just 17 drops in the previous four years combined.

Williams was credited with 12 drops, but that didn’t stop him from having a career season. The fourth-year receiver sprouted his route tree, became a target at all levels of the field, and maintained his big-play threat, finishing fourth in yards per reception (17.2).

Detroit saw a transition at their WR3 spot. After trading Tim Patrick away after training camp, it was up to Raymond and rookie TeSlaa to step up in the role. While TeSlaa had some early, flashy catches, he wasn’t getting a ton of opportunities until late in the season. Raymond, meanwhile, saw his efficiency drop pretty significantly in punt returns, but still flashed as a weapon on offense.

Outlook for 2026

Currently under contract:

• WR Jameson Williams (signed through 2029)
• WR Amon-Ra St. Brown (2028)
• WR Isaac TeSlaa (2028)
• WR Dominic Lovett (2028)
• WR Jackson Meeks (2026, futures)
• WR Malik Cunningham (2026, futures)

Free agents

• WR Kalif Raymond (unrestricted)
• WR Tom Kennedy (restricted)

The Lions’ top three receivers are locked in for the next three seasons, leaving this position in good shape for a few offseasons. The focus will simply be growth and development, and that starts with TeSlaa.

As he learned the offense, developed his route tree, and learned the nuance of route running, TeSlaa averaged just 13.0 snaps per game in his first eight contests. Down the stretch, that role jumped to 36.9 snaps a game. But despite the increase in role, his production remained relatively low. He only had over 40 yards in a game twice, but he did finish with nearly half of his production (119 yards) in the final three games alone. Clearly, he’ll need to work on his chemistry with Jared Goff in 2026.

But the biggest question is surrounding Kalif Raymond and his future with the team. Raymond will be 32 years old when the season begins, and his efficiency on special teams took a noticeable drop in 2025, despite another year with a return touchdown. Raymond is a clear culture fit, and his speed still makes him a valuable player, but it’s fair to wonder if his roles are slowly be usurped by younger players. TeSlaa clearly started to eat into Raymond’s role on offense, and it’s entirely possible Dominic Lovett could challenge for a return role in 2026. Now, that involves a lot of projection, as Lovett did not return a single punt in 2025 and only returned one in college, but Detroit did see some potential there.

Ultimately, like most personnel decisions, it will come down to money. Last year, Raymond took a significant paycut to stick around after signing a two-year, $10.5 million contract extension in 2023. Would Raymond be willing to stay again with a modest contract or is he looking to maximize his value for potentially the last time? Detroit clearly likes what Raymond can provide, but with the budget tightening and potential young replacements, it may be time to move on.