The Detroit Lions head into the 2026 offseason with one of the NFL’s most enviable wide receiver rooms. In 2025, they were the only team with two receivers finishing in the top 10 in receiving yards - a testament to both their talent and the offensive system that maximized it.
With their top trio under contract for the foreseeable future, this group isn’t a pressing need. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t big decisions looming.
Let’s break down where things stand - and where they’re headed - for Detroit’s wide receivers.
2025 Recap: Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams Lead the Charge
Amon-Ra St. Brown continued to prove he’s one of the league’s elite wideouts, logging his third consecutive All-Pro season - this time landing on the second team.
He hauled in 117 catches (fifth in the NFL) for 1,401 yards (fourth) and 11 touchdowns (tied for second). Those numbers speak for themselves, but there was one stat that raised eyebrows: catch percentage.
St. Brown caught just 68.0% of his targets in 2025, a noticeable dip from his career average of 73.7%.
Drops were more frequent than usual - 10 in total, after just 17 combined over his first four seasons. It wasn’t enough to derail his production, but it’s something to watch heading into 2026.
Jameson Williams, meanwhile, took a major step forward in his fourth season. He caught 65 passes for 1,117 yards and seven touchdowns, finishing 10th in the league in receiving yards and fourth in yards per reception (17.2).
Williams expanded his route tree and proved he could be a threat at every level of the field - not just a vertical burner. Yes, he had 12 drops, but his growth as a complete receiver was undeniable.
WR3 in Flux: TeSlaa and Raymond Share the Spotlight
After the Lions traded Tim Patrick following training camp, the WR3 role became a revolving door early in the season. Isaac TeSlaa, a rookie, and Kalif Raymond, the veteran Swiss Army knife, both saw time in that spot.
TeSlaa had some early flashes but wasn’t heavily involved until the back half of the season. He averaged just 13.0 snaps per game in his first eight appearances.
That number jumped to nearly 37 snaps per game over the final stretch, but his production remained modest - just two games with more than 40 receiving yards. Still, he closed strong, with 119 of his 239 total yards coming in the last three games.
The chemistry with Jared Goff is still a work in progress, but the Lions clearly see potential.
Raymond, meanwhile, continued to be a versatile contributor, though his efficiency dipped. He logged 24 catches for 289 yards and a touchdown on offense, while also handling punt and kick return duties.
He averaged 7.5 yards per punt return and 26.8 yards per kick return, including one return touchdown. But at 32 years old heading into 2026, the question is whether he can maintain that level - or if younger players are ready to take over.
2026 Outlook: Core Locked In, Questions Around the Edges
Here’s the good news for Detroit: the top of the depth chart is set. St.
Brown is signed through 2028, Williams through 2029, and TeSlaa through 2028. Add in Dominic Lovett, another young receiver under contract through 2028, and Jackson Meeks and Malik Cunningham on futures deals, and the Lions have a full room heading into camp.
The biggest decision centers on Kalif Raymond, who’s set to hit unrestricted free agency. Tom Kennedy is a restricted free agent, but the spotlight is on Raymond - and what the Lions want to do with a veteran who’s meant so much to the locker room and special teams unit.
Raymond took a pay cut last year to stay in Detroit, trimming his two-year, $10.5 million extension to help the team’s cap situation. Would he be willing to do that again? Or is he looking for one more decent payday before hanging up the cleats?
It’s a classic NFL crossroads: a respected veteran with diminishing returns versus younger, cheaper options with upside. TeSlaa is already starting to eat into Raymond’s offensive snaps. Lovett - while unproven as a returner - has shown enough athleticism to be considered for that role, even if he didn’t return punts in 2025 and only had one in college.
Ultimately, this decision could come down to dollars and cents. Detroit loves what Raymond brings - both on the field and in the locker room - but with a tight budget and a youth movement underway, the team may decide it’s time to pass the torch.
Final Thought
The Lions don’t need to overhaul their wide receiver room - they just need to keep developing what they have. St.
Brown and Williams give them one of the most dynamic duos in football, and if TeSlaa can build on his late-season flashes, Detroit could be even more dangerous in 2026. The only real question is whether there’s still a place for Kalif Raymond - and if so, at what price.