The Detroit Lions were close to Super Bowl contention during the two consecutive seasons they won the NFC North in 2023 and 2024, but took a step back last year as they failed to make the playoffs.
The Lions now face some major offseason questions, with several key players headed to free agency and some holes in positions on both sides of the ball. One analyst believes they could just be a few moves away from contention, urging them to go “all-in” by signing one of the most consistently productive wide receivers over the last decade.
Lions Could Add One More Weapon for Jared Goff
SI.com’s Vito Chirco outlined that free agent signings the Lions could make to jump back into contention, suggesting they could target veteran wide receiver Mike Evans. Chirco wrote that the Lions aren’t exactly bare when it comes to offensive weapons — with a trio of strong pass-catchers in wide receivers Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams and tight end Sam LaPorta — but could still welcome Evans to the mix.
Evans reached the end of his two-year, $52 million contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and could give a boost to the Lions, Chirco suggested.
“Evans, who has spent the first 12 seasons of his career in Tampa Bay, has the credentials of a future Pro Football Hall of Famer,” Chirco wrote. “Most notably, he recorded north of 1,000 receiving yards in each of his first 11 seasons (2014-2024). During this same period, he also earned six Pro Bowl nods and won a Super Bowl (Super Bowl LV).”
Chirco added that there would be questions as well, including whether Evans could bounce back from the injuries that sidelined him in 2025.
“He’ll be 33 entering the 2026 season, and his best years may be behind him now after suffering through an injury-riddled 2025 campaign,” Chirco wrote.
Nathan Dougherty is a sports reporter covering the NFL for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Buffalo Bills, Detroit Lions and Miami Dolphins. Previously he wrote for the Rochester Business Journal and served as the assistant editor of athletic trade magazines Coaching Management, Athletic Management and Training & Conditioning. He is based out of Rochester, New York, and loves everything football. More about Nathan Dougherty
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