The Detroit Lions are in a strong position this offseason, with a talented roster that doesn’t have many glaring needs. However, one area that could use some attention is the wide receiver position.
For another season, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams will lead the charge atop the depth chart, with Williams coming off a career year. Behind them, though, things are less certain.
Kalif Raymond is still under contract, but he’s not an ideal No. 3 option. Tim Patrick, who stepped up as a reliable No. 3 in 2024, is set to become a free agent, along with Allen Robinson, who contributed just three catches for 30 yards last season.
The Lions should absolutely look to bring Patrick back, but if they want to add more depth—or if Patrick moves on—Richard Silva of The Detroit News suggests targeting Brandin Cooks, a pending free agent from the Dallas Cowboys.
Cooks’ 2024 season was statistically his worst, but there are valid reasons behind that. The 5-foot-10, 189-pound receiver missed seven games due to a knee injury, and by the time he returned, starting quarterback Dak Prescott was sidelined for the remainder of the season. Prior to 2024, Cooks had surpassed 550 receiving yards in every one of his previous 10 seasons, even reaching the 1,000-yard mark as recently as 2021. While his elite days might be behind him, he’s remained a steady and reliable receiver throughout his career with five different teams. An added plus is the connection with Lions offensive coordinator John Morton, who coached Cooks as the receivers coach for the New Orleans Saints from 2015 to 2016.
As Silva points out, Cooks’ 2024 struggles shouldn’t overshadow his consistent production over the years. The injury issues and the Cowboys’ offensive turmoil, even with Prescott on the field, played a significant role in his down year.
The main concern with Cooks is his age—he’ll be turning 32 in September—and there’s no denying that his performance has been in decline since 2021. He hasn’t hit 1,000 yards in a season since then, and it’s fair to question whether he’s still capable of elite play.
However, the Lions wouldn’t need Cooks to be a primary option in their offense, thanks to St. Brown and Williams. At best, Cooks would slot in as the No. 3 receiver, and even then, he’d be the No. 4 option in the passing game if you include Sam LaPorta. If the Lions bring Patrick back, Cooks could fall even further down the depth chart.
According to Spotrac, Cooks is expected to sign a one-year deal worth around $5.2 million in free agency. It’s hard to see the Lions paying that much unless they’re replacing Patrick.
Given the lessons learned in 2024 about the importance of depth, Cooks should certainly be on the Lions’ radar for 2025, especially if Patrick signs elsewhere.
