One advantage of having the worst record in the NFL is that the Detroit Lions get priority No. 1 on the waiver wire. That means, every time a player is released by any of the 31 other teams, the Lions will get the first opportunity to claim that player—basically, if they want them, they get them.
On Tuesday, nine players were released from NFL rosters, the most notable being wide receiver Josh Reynolds, who was most recently with the Tennessee Titans, but was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in the fourth round (pick No. 114) of the 2017 NFL draft. At that time, current Lions general manager Brad Holmes was the Rams’ director of college scouting and had a large role in their draft process.
Once in L.A., Reynolds took on a WR4 role his first three seasons and earned a WR3 starting role in 2020, seeing roughly 70-percent of their offensive snaps. In total, he started 24 of his 69 games played with the Rams. Over those four years, Reynolds established chemistry with current Lions starting quarterback Jared Goff, recording 113 receptions, 1450 yards (average 12.5 yards per reception), and nine touchdowns.
This past offseason, many—including myself—connected the dots and believed Reynolds would be a nice fit in Detroit, but he opted to sign with the Titans on a one-year $1.75 million fully guaranteed contract. Unfortunately, Reynolds was never able to find his footing on the depth chart in Tennessee and he requested they release him, which they did on Tuesday.
If acquired off waivers, Reynolds’ contract will be picked up by the claiming team. While fully guaranteed, only a portion of the contract is still owed. The Titans absorb his $750,000 signing bonus, as well as $500,000 of his base salary that was paid over the first half of the season. That leaves just $500,000 remaining on the contract for the claiming team to pay over the final nine weeks of the season.
To summarize: The Lions hold the top priority waiver claim and have a massive need at receiver. Reynolds has a connection to Goff, was selected by the draft team led by Holmes, and cost just a half-million in cap space.
So, that leads us to today’s question:
Should the Lions claim WR Josh Reynolds?
My answer: Absolutely.
Reynolds has size (6-foot-3), route timing, and the long speed to stretch a defense. He is capable of playing inside (about a third of the time) and at both outside spots, which gives him a very appealing amount of versatility.
If the Lions claim him, he would instantly, at a minimum, be WR3 with the upside to earn a future role with the organization. Waiver wire transactions are processed within 24 hours, so if the Lions do indeed put in a claim, we will know by 4:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday.
Alright, your turn. Vote in the poll and sound off in the comments section.
Poll
Should the Lions claim WR Josh Reynolds?
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98%
Yes
(298 votes) -
1%
No
(5 votes)
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Why the Detroit Lions should claim WR Josh Reynolds? - prideofdetroit.com
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