Lions bringing back young receiver with major upside

Peoples-Jones’ career took an unexpected dive in 2023. After being drafted in the sixth round of the 2020 NFL Draft out of Michigan, Peoples-Jones gradually earned more and more of a role with the Browns. As a rookie, he started two games, catching 14 passes for 304 yards and two touchdowns. In his sophomore season, he upped those numbers to nine starts, 34 receptions, 597 yards, and three touchdowns. By 2022, he was setting new highs with 14 starts and 61 catches for 839 receiving yards and three touchdowns, functioning as Cleveland’s WR2 behind Amari Cooper.

2023 brought a confusing change of pace. The Browns had traded for Elijah Moore and drafted Tennessee rookie Cedric Tillman in the third round and all of the sudden, Peoples-Jones’ contributions dwindled. Through seven weeks with the team, five of them starts and six of them games in which he played at least 80 percent of the team’s offensive snaps, Peoples-Jones had only accumulated eight catches for 97 yards.

The lack of production led Cleveland to trade Peoples-Jones to the Lions in exchange for a 2025 sixth-round pick. Detroit opted to ease Peoples-Jones into the offense, relying on their corps of Amon-Ra St. Brown, Josh Reynolds, Kalif Raymond and Jameson Williams. Up until the final game of the regular season, Peoples-Jones never appeared in more than 21% of the team’s offensive snaps, and he hardly saw the field in three playoff games.

Now, with a full offseason in Detroit between now and his next in-game appearance, the Lions are showing a renewed dedication to Peoples-Jones. Schutlz reports that Peoples-Jones was a priority for the franchise, who believe that the 25-year-old is still a rising star in the league despite his struggles last season.

With Reynolds currently sitting on the free-agent market, the WR2 job appears to be an open competition. Peoples-Jones will have the opportunity to duke it out with Raymond and Williams to earn Reynolds’ targets in 2024.