Notes: Only 1 team has better skill position players than the Lions

According to an ESPN writer, the Detroit Lions have the second-best set of skill position players in the NFL.

When you think of the Detroit Lions , your mind no doubt goes to some of the superstars on offense. They likely have the best running back duo in football, including a top-three talent in Jahmry Gibbs. Two-time All-Pro Amon-Ra St. Brown is certainly a top-10 receiver, and arguably in the top-five. Tight end Sam LaPorta followed up a history rookie season with another strong one last year. And even some of the other players—David Montgomery, Jameson Williams, and Kalif Raymond—are extremely valuable in their own right.

So it comes as little surprise that the Lions ranked No. 2 overall Bill Barnwell’s list of the top skill position players in the NFL . Barnwell’s article over at ESPN has some awesome statistical nuggets, including this one on St. Brown:

“He had an 81.6% catch rate last season, the second-best rate for a wideout with 100 targets or more since 1992. His 70.2% success rate on those targets, per Pro Football Reference , was the fifth-best mark for any wideout with those same constraints.”

The only team Barnwell ranked over the Lions is the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles , who sport the likes of Saquon Barkley, A.J. Brown, Devonta Smith, and Dallas Goedert. But even with that array of weapons, Barnwell admits the only reason he doesn’t have the Lions in the top spot is that he’s not entirely sure how much of their effectiveness will be lost after the departure of offensive coordinator Ben Johnson.

“Ben Johnson was undoubtedly a huge help to the offense and getting the most out of this talent, but with the former Detroit coordinator now off to the Bears , there probably won’t be the same endless array of trick plays and brilliant adjustments that we saw in years past,” Barnwell wrote. “If the Lions can keep this up with John Morton calling plays , they’ll be the clear No. 1 in 2026.”

In case you were wondering, the Vikings are sixth on the list, the Packers are 17th, and the Bears are 25th.

• More shenanigans from the Lions rookie class:

• ESPN’s survey of NFL executives and coaches to rank positions has reached edge rusher. Aidan Hutchinson came up just seventh on the list this year after ranking sixth in 2024 .

• Some “Quarterback” spoilers here, but there is a good amount of DOGGO content. Quincy looks like a very good boy:

• Neat idea from Justin Rogers of Detroit Football Network: He wrote one thing that each projected starter could improve upon in 2025. For example, for Jamhyr Gibbs: develop a wheel route. I am fully on board.

• I’d have them higher, honestly:

• Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com listed the best rookies the Lions will have to face this year.