In discussions regarding the steps the Detroit Lions should take this offseason, their defense has been garnering the majority of focus.
Nevertheless, there are certain offensive needs that have gone somewhat unnoticed.
One of those needs might arise at the wide receiver position, and now a player with six seasons of over 1000 receiving yards has been mentioned as a possible choice for the Lions.
Richard Silva of The Detroit News identified Dallas Cowboys wideout Brandin Cooks as a target the Lions ought to consider in the 2025 NFL offseason.
Cooks has posted at least 550 yards in each of his previous 10 seasons prior to 2024, and he was a 1,000-yard receiver as recently as 2021. His days of elite play are behind him, but he’s been a consistent, reliable receiver across his stints with five different teams. An added bonus: Lions offensive coordinator John Morton was Cooks’ receivers coach with the Saints from 2015-16.
Cooks is finishing a season that has been easily the worst of his career, especially given that he could only participate in 10 games due to injury.
In 2024, Cooks recorded the lowest receptions per game of his career, with an average of only 2.6. His 25.9 yards per game represented a career low and were 14 yards fewer than in any other season he had played.
It’s a concerning pattern for Cooks. His yards per game have dropped by a minimum of 10 yards from the prior year in each of the last four seasons.
The suitability of Cooks for the Lions will largely hinge on the cost.
Tim Patrick is poised to enter free agency, while Josh Reynolds is a likely cut for this offseason. That might result in the team lacking a WR3.
This role won’t be regarded as a top priority since the team has an abundance of other receiving talent, including Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Sam LaPorta, and Jahmyr Gibbs.
Patrick similarly recorded 33 receptions for 394 yards in this position throughout the 2024 season.
If the Lions can acquire him at a low cost, adding a veteran with a proven track record of reliable performance before the 2024 season would be valuable. Alternatively, the team ought to seek a more budget-friendly choice as possibly the fifth option in their passing strategy.