The Detroit Lions have an overcrowded wide receiver room this season. An abundance of talent in any one position isn’t a bad problem. But it inevitably means some talented individuals won’t make the final cut. Nonetheless, one UDFA, Jackson Meeks , stands a good chance of making the Lions 53-man roster.
UDFA Talent Stands Out In Crowded Lions’ Receiver Room
The Lions’ wide receiver room is stacked with superior talent. After Brad Holmes re-signed him to a new one-year contract, Lions veteran Tim Patrick is back with the team, re-joining All-Pro sensation Amon-Ra St. Brown , emerging star Jameson Williams, and the versatile Kalif Raymond . Although the quartet makes up a solid receiver room, Holmes wasn’t finished. During the NFL draft, he aggressively traded up to acquire Isaac TeSlaa in the third round and added Dominic Lovett in the seventh round.
New To The Lions This Year
In addition to third-year Lions veteran Tom Kennedy, Holmes signed former San Francisco 49ers receiver Ronnie Bell to a Reserve/Future contract last January. Following the draft, the Lions also signed two undrafted free-agent rookies in May: Jakobie Keeney-James and Meeks. Later that month, Holmes signed former Green Bay Packers and New York Jets veteran Malik Taylor.
These five men will battle for a spot on the 53-man roster. While each possesses individual qualities that make them an attractive option for Dan Campbell and wide receivers coach Scottie Montgomery , the group’s most intriguing player might be Meeks.
Meeks, A Collegiate Standout
A native of Arizona, Meeks began his college football career as a Georgia Bulldog. Appearing mostly on special teams in limited usage, he gained valuable experience blocking for the punt team, as well as kickoff and punt returns. During that time, he was credited with eight tackles and recorded 10 receptions on 21 targets for 132 yards. But seeking a better situation for himself, Meeks transferred to Syracuse for the final year of his college eligibility.
The move proved to be a good one. In a single game at Syracuse, the 6’2” 218 lb. standout eclipsed his entire three-year production at Georgia, hauling in 10 receptions for 161 yards and one touchdown. He was named the ACC Receiver of the Week. The following week, Meeks won the award again with 11 receptions for 116 yards with one touchdown. After just one season at Syracuse, he ranked as the seventh most productive receiver in school history, and second in the ACC with 78 catches for 1,021 yards and seven touchdowns.
Why UDFA Meeks Stands The Best Chance of Making Lions Roster
Meeks is an incredibly gifted athlete. At the Syracuse Pro Day, he proved to be one of the day’s top performers . He posted a 34.5-inch vertical, the highest jump of the day, and led all broad jump participants with a 10-foot standing broad jump. His team also tied for the lead in the 3-cone drill with a time of 6.79 seconds.
As a tall, big-bodied receiver, Meeks’s size and physicality give him an advantage in contested catch situations. Bringing in 21 of 35 contested targets, Pro Football Focus (PFF) ranked him among the best in the nation. Furthermore, he tracks the ball well and can adjust his body as needed with an impressive catch radius . Where Meeks struggles a bit is his lack of speed. He lacks an explosive component to his game, running the 40-yard dash in 4.65 seconds.
One of the characteristics the Lions look for in their wide receivers is good run blockers. In addition to his athleticism and advantageous build, Meeks is a tremendous run blocker. He isn’t afraid to initiate contact and plays a very physical game. He also knows how to maneuver in traffic to attack defenders in space. PFF.com gave him an impressive run-blocker grade of 75.5.
Meeks has to be able to translate his collegiate skills to the NFL and clean up the bad habits that limit his effectiveness, such as telegraphing his routes to defenders. But in addition to his talents as a receiver, his special-teams experience at Georgia could make him an asset for Dave Fipp and the Lions’ special teams.
Final Thoughts On Meeks’ Value To the Lions
It also doesn’t hurt that Meeks has another link tying him to the Detroit Lions. His uncle is talented Pro Bowl EDGE Za’Darius Smith , who was acquired before the November trade deadline by the Lions last year. Smith was released in March for financial reasons arising from his Cleveland Browns contract. However, both sides have expressed hope for a reunion. Perhaps if his UDFA nephew Meeks is on the Lions’ roster, that would be an added incentive for Smith to re-sign with Detroit under a new contract.
Main Photo: Jerome Miron – Imagn Images
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