Friday open thread: Which free agent wide receiver would be the most exciting addition for the Lions?

The Detroit Lions set themselves up for a strange situation a couple years ago with the way their wide receivers’ contracts were falling. The 2021 offseason was set to see the room nearly empty completely, and that reality is now upon us. This is not exactly a rare occurrence in the NFL, but it can be a tricky one to navigate.

With the trade of Matthew Stafford and the hiring of a new general manager and head coach, the Lions are entering a new chapter, so it might actually be beneficial to have some flexibility as opposed to restrictive contracts. However, the team will need to field some receivers next season, so acquisitions must be made somewhere.

Kenny Golladay could always be franchise tagged or fully re-signed, but that would not be my preference. Meanwhile Marvin Jones is almost certainly gone, meaning the team must find a WR1 somewhere. Given the rebuilding nature of the 2021 team, this role might not be filled by an elite receiver, but it could be fun to make a splash this offseason.

Today’s Question of the Day is:

Which free agent wide receiver would be the most exciting addition for the Lions?

My answer:

I should say that I do not expect anything crazy to happen in terms of wide receiver signings, as that would be financially imprudent. In fact, I do not even see a Golden Tate or Marvin Jones type of addition either. But since the NFL offseason is all about dreaming, there are a couple fun names out there on the market.

Chris Godwin would be the home run signing, and would represent an upgrade in both age and production over Golladay. It also seems like taking a gamble on JuJu Smith-Schuster could pay off well. The best receiver on the market to me, though, would be Allen Robinson. The 28-year-old has done nothing but produce despite subpar quarterback play throughout his career, and he would be a great weapon to help out Jared Goff and the offense.