By Michael Stets
With OTAs and a three-day mandatory mini camp in the books, the Lions won’t return to action until training camp opens on July 31. There will be several position battles to keep your eyes on this summer and the wide receiver competition will be chief among them.
With veteran wide outs Golden Tate and Marvin Jones entrenched in the No.1 and No.2 spots. And this year’s third-round draft pick Kenny Golladay–who has looked outstanding thus far– a lock to make the 53-man roster before the season begins, there may only be one spot left to fill. Jace Billingsley, Jared Abbrederis, T.J. Jones, Keshawn Martin and Ryan Spadola, among several others, will all be battling to become the fourth wide out, or perhaps even the fifth if the team decides to keep five receivers when they break from camp.
Speaking to reporters at the Lions veteran mini camp last week, Tate said Golladay’s “route running is getting better and better every day,” and that he’s looking forward to seeing the No.96 overall pick, as well as the other receivers once training camp begins.
“Come preseason, I can’t wait to watch him and some of the younger guys,” said Tate, who has posted three straight 90-catch seasons for the Lions.
The Lions’ best receiver in 2016, Anquan Boldin, led the team with eight touchdowns, but the veteran wide out won’t be returning to Detroit in 2017 unless, of course, he signs another deal with the team prior to training camp like last year. But there has been no indication he will be coming back for a second season with the Lions. Head coach Jim Caldwell was asked about the possibility of Boldin returning last week and said, “never say never,” but the front office hasn’t “had any discussions with him.”
As for how the position group stands as of now, Caldwell seems pleased, but he did say the team will always remain diligent in terms of making moves to help improve the roster.
“I think we’re in good shape where we are right now,” Caldwell said. “I think we have a really good core. Now, will we look to improve our team? Just like I told you, there’s not going to be a time, we’re never going to rest. Never going to relax, never going to not try to get better at where we can.”
Tate, now entering his fourth season with the Lions, likes the level of competition he’s seeing from his teammates at wide receiver and he thinks that will ultimately benefit the entire group.
“I think guys have a chance right now to make a name for themselves and find their fit on this offense or special teams and I think we have a lot of talent,” said Tate. “We just have to keep growing. I think the more competitive the room, the better the overall team. I think that’s when you get guys best is when they have to bring it every single day. And I think that’s what we are trying to do.”
Billingsley, who Tate calls “White Thunder,” has been playing well this off season. He was a member of the practice squad for the majority of 2016. Abbrederis signed to a reserve/future contract this past January and has played well too, making some nice downfield grabs during OTAs. And T.J. Jones, the team’s 2014 sixth-round draft pick, will be in the running to earn a spot too. Tate says they are all working hard and that having an abundance of talent at one position on offense isn’t a bad thing to have.
“I think every guy comes into work with purpose to get better and to know their material the best they can,” he said. “But I don’t think there is such a thing as having too many weapons.”
As for the battle for the final one or two spots at receiver, Tate says it’s a tight race thus far.
“I think right now it’s close. I think those guys are battling. But I don’t think they look at it as ‘I’m trying to fight for the fourth, fifth, sixth spot.’ I think they are just coming out here working their tails off and trying to make plays. I personally think that when you start trying to figure out numbers that’s when you get in your own head and you start making mistakes. I think these guys are just doing what they love, going out and making plays and loving football and it’s working out.”