The Detroit Lions wrapped up their organized team activities (OTAs) this week and will now turn their attention to mandatory minicamp, which begins on June 10 and runs through June 12.
As he always does, head coach Dan Campbell addressed the media during the last voluntary portion of the offseason program and mentioned six players in particular who managed to stand out the most.
On offense, Campbell mentioned wide receiver Jameson Williams, tight end Sam LaPorta and running back Jahmyr Gibbs. No real surprises there.
On defense, cornerbacks Ennis Rakestraw Jr. and D.J. Reed, and defensive back Avonte Maddox were those who were named by the Lions head coach.
Williams in particular has been receiving a ton of hype from his coaches, including Campbell and offensive coordinator John Morton. Both coaches expect yet another breakout season for Williams, who posted a career-high 1,001 yards in 2024.
“Unbelievable,” Morton said of Williams’ work this offseason. “When I first got here, he came in to see me and we had a chat. This is how I painted the picture, this is what you need to do and this is how I see it and he’s been unbelievable.
“In the meetings, his attention to detail, I mean, I’m so excited to see him this year. It’s going to be a breakout year for him. I can’t wait. I just can’t wait, man.”
Rakestraw is entering a crucial season for his career after being limited by injury in 2024.
Campbell revealed that Rakestraw, who said after last season that the plan was to play him in the slot before his injury, will be focusing on the boundary instead, where there isn’t a clear path to a significant role thanks to Terrion Arnold and Reed.
“It’s up to him. He’s got an opportunity. We’re gonna play the best guy, that’s what competition is about,” Campbell said. “The whole roster knows that, and if you’re the best guy, you’re not gonna just sit there,” Campbell said. “No, no, no. It’s the best guy. He’s gonna have a chance to compete, we’d like to keep him outside for now and just let him go. He had a good spring, and there again we’re in pajamas. But he’s gonna get a chance to compete and see how much he’s grown and how much production he can have for us.”
We’ll see if things change moving forward, but for now it would appear that last year’s top slot cornerback, Amik Robertson, is in line to resume his role.
Reed and Maddox were both brought in via free agency, with Reed serving as the replacement for Carlton Davis, who left for the New England Patriots. Maddox is going to fight for a role as a nickel/safety, Lions safeties coach Jim O’Neil said.
“Avonte will be an inside player, similar to what he’s done his whole career, as far as nickel/safety body,” O’Neil explained. That’s what he’s done at Philly for years.”
LaPorta and Gibbs had very different years in 2024.
Gibbs built on his impressive rookie season with career-highs in rushing yards (1,412), receiving yards (517) and touchdowns (20 total, 16 rushing, four receiving).
Meanwhile, LaPorta suffered a bit of a sophomore slump after his historic rookie campaign. The Iowa product’s 726 receiving yards were 163 less than the year prior, and he also saw a dip in touchdowns (10 to seven).
Despite his drop in production, LaPorta was happy with how he improved as a blocker and attributed his lower numbers to the Lions simply having a lot of mouths to food.
“I was very pleased with how my run game and the blocking came along in Year 2,” LaPorta said. “I felt like I was still a very polished receiver in the pass game. There were a lot of weapons last year, so I kept hearing comments maybe this offseason like, ‘Why didn’t you get the ball as much?’ It’s like, ‘Dude, we scored the most points out of any team in the NFL in the last five years. Like, everybody deserves the ball.’ And I agree, I think I deserve the ball still, but I was very pleased with how I blocked last year in the run game.
“Looking ahead this year, I think just continue to polish things off in the run game, the pass game,” he added. “Start to see the game from the quarterback’s perspective — what Jared (Goff) needs exactly — and maybe not just knowing what I’m doing on the field, but what other people are doing as well. Just seeing the big picture.”
With the emergence of Williams as quarterback Jared Goff’s No. 2 target, it comes as zero surprise that his breakout year came at the expense of LaPorta.
Even still, LaPorta had a very strong season when you consider he finished sixth among tight ends in receiving yards. Nothing about LaPorta’s 2024 showing has changed our view of him as one of the best tight ends in the NFL.
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