The Detroit Lions have significant offseason needs at both wide receiver and tight end. They’ll get a long look at several draft candidates at each position while coaching the American team at the 2022 Senior Bowl in February.
The Senior Bowl revealed the receiving talent that the Lions will coach in Mobile during the week of practices and the game itself, which takes place on February 5th. It’s a strong mix of intriguing players of varying skill sets at both spots for the American team quarterbacks, who were announced earlier this week.
At wide receiver, the Lions will coach a group that features several players generally projected in the middle rounds of the 2022 NFL draft:
- Calvin Austin, Memphis
- Dontario Drummond, Ole Miss
- Danny Gray, SMU
- Reggie Roberson, SMU
- Velus Jones, Tennessee
- Tre Turner, Virginia Tech
- Jalen Tolbert, South Alabama
The tight ends will add to the Mustang flavor for Detroit in Mobile with another SMU player:
- Daniel Bellinger, San Diego State
- Grant Calcaterra, SMU
- Greg Dulcich, UCLA
- Isaiah Likely, Coastal Carolina
Early takeaway
The tight ends are all prospects who could step right into the No. 2 TE role in Detroit next to T.J. Hockenson. Bellinger is the most versatile, Likely has the highest ceiling. Calcaterra had some major injury issues earlier but was the best receiver of the group in 2021.
At wideout, Austin is an undersized dynamo — think a supercharged Kalif Raymond. Gray, Jones and Drummond are all about the same size but offer divergent strengths, with Jones appearing the best initial fit for the current Lions. Tolbert has some outstanding game tape that suggests a brighter NFL future than any other Senior Bowl wideout on either squad. He gets the benefit of playing in his home stadium, too.
🚨TIGHT ENDS🚨 Roster of TEs for the American team coached by the @Lions – @bellinger_12 @grcalcaterra @Greg_Dulcich @DaGorilla4 #TheDraftStartsInMOBILE™️ pic.twitter.com/zpdXXOkuW3
— Reese's Senior Bowl (@seniorbowl) January 15, 2022
🚨WIDE RECEIVERS🚨 Roster of WRs for the American team coached by the @Lions – @calvinaustiniii @BigJohnDrummond @DGray_5 @VelusJr @TheKingReggie @Jalen8Tolbert @tre11turner #TheDraftStartsInMOBILE™️ pic.twitter.com/jclPDZgZWQ
— Reese's Senior Bowl (@seniorbowl) January 14, 2022
