For a Detroit Lions team that is looking to continue its roster makeover, youth infusion is a top priority. The front office led by Brad Holmes is drafting and signing tons of talent that are either top-end or being overlooked and lining them up to be coached up by Dan Campbell and his staff.
While finding those inearthed diamonds in the draft or free agent pool is important, so is providing veteran leadership for them to learn from. For the 2023 season, the wide receiver room and coaching staff seem to be leaning on Marvin Jones Jr. who returns to Detroit after leaving in 2021 to sign with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Buy Lions TicketsIt is one thing however to be a veteran presence in the locker room, Jones Jr. entered the league in 2012, but it is another to be the oldest receiver on the roster and in the NFL in a literal sense. Jones is the oldest wide receiver in the league at 33.5 years old.
Technically, Matthew Slater is older, but he is a special teams player listed as a receiver. He’s caught one pass in 15 NFL seasons. Calling him a receiver is akin to calling Lions punter Jack Fox a quarterback because he has thrown four passes on fake punts.
WRs at 31+ to make 53-rosters
Matthew Slater (Patriots) – 38.0
Marvin Jones Jr. (Lions) – 33.5
Adam Thielen (Panthers) – 33.0
Randall Cobb (Jets) – 33.0
Marquise Goodwin (Browns) – 32.8
Robert Woods (Texans) – 31.4
Keenan Allen (Chargers) – 31.4
DeAndre Hopkins (Titans) – 31.3— Nathan Jahnke (@PFF_NateJahnke) August 30, 2023
Jones Jr. as mentioned above is in Detroit now to coach up and lead by example the young receiving corp for the Lions. Taking him out of the equation, the average age of the Lions receiver room is slightly over 25 years old making Jones Jr. eight years their elder.
Looking back, Marvin Jones Jr. left Detroit for Jacksonville to the tune of a $12.5 million dollar contract. He signed there to be one of the top receiving options for the young franchise piece Trevor Lawrence but he couldn’t find his groove. The groove he found in Detroit allowed him to average 859 yards receiving per game as a Lion, as a Jaguar he averaged 680.
Expectations for his role may be large to the fans and some media but by taking a steo back and looking at it you can see it for what it is. While Jones Jr. may be able to produce in some bulk at times, the Lions and you the reader shouldn’t rely on that. His veteran presence off the field will yield way more than anyhing he does this season on the field.
