Lions Offseason Positional Analysis: WRs

This is the fourth in our series of roster analysis by position group for the 2026 offseason leading up to Free Agency and the NFL draft.  Today’s focus will be on the WR room, where the Top 3 players are set for the next several years, but depth and special teams play possibly could be upgraded for spots four, five and six. 

Isaac TeSlaa second career TD reception

WRs

• Under Contract:

  • Amon-Ra St Brown, Jameson Williams, Isaac TeSlaa, Dominic Lovett, Jackson Meeks (Futures), Malik Cunningham (Futures)

• Free Agents:

  • Kalif Raymond (UFA), Tom Kennedy (RFA)

Analysis:

The Lions typically keep five or six WRs on their active roster at a given time, and that means that after St Brown, Williams and TeSlaa, there will be some jockeying for position between the rest of the guys under contract and possibly bring back both Raymond and Kennedy as Free Agents.  Lovett may have been a 7^th round selection, but the Lions (and others) saw enough in him to keep him on the roster as WR 5/6 all season long.  Based on his size and skillset, he may be the heir-apparent to Kalif Raymond as if he leaves in Free Agency.  Jackson Meeks also showed enough in pre-season and was elevated to the active roster twice last year, that he could be battling for that last active roster spot as well.  Tom Kennedy continues to hang around, and the Lions know what they have in him.  A dependable guy that knows the system, does his job and can be counted on when absolutely necessary. Cunningham is the wild card here, as he is a bit older (six years in college and three-years in NFL) at 27 than either Meeks of Lovett, but the Lions thought enough of what he brings to the team they signed him to a Futures deal.

RAS Compare of Kennedy and Raymond

Options:

The most ideal scenario is that the Lions will re-sign both Raymond and Kennedy, as neither should be super expensive.  Kennedy will NOT be tendered as a Restricted Free Agent, as the tender for an RFA at $3,547,000 for just a right of first refusal, and Kennedy was a UDFA.  Kalif, even at 31, has a valuation of ~$2.3M to $4M, which is right where he was slotted last year ($4M) as the primary PR and KR in addition to being the 3^rd/4^th WR. Kennedy has likely earned himself at least a bump in pay above vet minimum and a legit shot at the WR 5, 6 and ST role, as he gave the KR and PR game a massive boost when he was pulled onto the active roster at the end of the year and he is a dependable option in the passing game. There is always a chance that Holmes will grab a WR if the right opportunity presents itself in the draft (i.e. a kid falls a round or two below projections like St Brown), but I do not see him moving up for one like he has Williams and TeSlaa in the past.

• FAs: Kalif Raymond (UFA), Tom Kennedy (RFA), Wan’Dale Robinson (UFA), Rondale Moore (UFA-Injury Issues)

• Draft Pick:   Omar Cooper Jr (3^rd), Zachariah Branch (4^th), CJ Daniels (4^th), Eric McCallister (5^th), Jaquaize Pettaway (UDFA), Noah Thomas (UDFA), Chris Hilton (UDFA)

Bottom Line:

Barring someone falling to them in the middle rounds of the draft that is too good to pass up, I believe the Lions will focus on their existing roster and are likely to bring Raymond back on a similar deal to last year. Kennedy would be the guy to watch, as he could possibly be poached by Chicago, who will have some receiver problems to deal with, but he never seemed to curry enough favor with Ben Johnson to be one of the main 5 WRs on the roster. However, he has been a Lion his entire seven-year career even though he probably has had opportunities elsewhere and never taken them.  Regardless, Holmes is always looking to get better, and cheaper, so there will be bottom-of-the-roster guys brought in to challenge for the four, five and PS spots at WR with the incumbents.

In the end, I think that Holmes will likely sign a veteran to compete for WR 4, 5 or 6 and Special teams’ role, but in all likelihood, we bring back Raymond and Kennedy, as the Free Agent class is either expensive, injured or not better than who we have. If someone drops to round 5 or especially 6, where the Lions are projected to have three picks, that would be the spot where Holmes would likely grab a WR.