The Miami Dolphins released veteran slot receiver Danny Amendola on Friday as part of the NFL purging of overpriced vets in advance of free agency.
The Detroit Lions have a dire need to add a slot receiver. Lions GM Bob Quinn and head coach Matt Patricia know Amendola well from their days together in New England.
Putting those hands together makes too much sense, right?
As Lee Corso would often say in the venerable NCAA Football video games (RIP), “not so fast, my friend…”
Amendola can still play and offers an upgrade over what the Lions currently have at the position. He has a catch rate over 70 percent in each of the last four seasons, the first three of those in New England. The quickness to get open quickly is still there, and he hauled in 59 passes on 79 targets from a barrage of unimpressive QBs in his one Dolphins season.
However, Amendola is a limited weapon. Now 33, he almost never runs routes beyond 10 yards. His ability to break tackles after the catch has also diminished, helping result in a paltry 9.7 yards per reception average last season. At his age, he’s not apt to take over punt return duties in Detroit, either.
He’s still a serviceable slot receiver with reliable hands, but the Lions should aim higher in filling the big hole in the slot.
