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5 Best Wide Receivers in Detroit Lions History

Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

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5 Best Wide Receivers in Detroit Lions History

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Zach Kaplan | Last updated Jul 20, 2026 4:20 PM ET

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For any NFL (or fantasy football) fan in the mid 2010s, watching a Detroit Lions game was appointment TV with Matthew Stafford throwing to Calvin Johnson, who was the tip of the iceberg in a franchise very capable of developing star wide receivers.

Through 97 seasons and a combined legacy from Portsmouth to the Motor City, the Lions have hardly suffered from a lack of good wide receiver options compared to their peers.

Yet, for the purposes of this list, there can only be five. Here's an attempt at ranking the top five Lions wide receivers of all time.

5. Brett Perriman (1991-1996)

Three-fifths of this list includes the Lions' dangerous wide-out trio of the 1990s that thrived on the attention opposing defenses rightfully devoted to Barry Sanders on the ground.

Perriman was no exception, the smallest of the trio at 5-foot-9, 180 pounds, but no less fearsome. The Miami product relied on his elusiveness to rack up an impressive statistical resume, finding the end zone 25 times in six seasons, and 5,244 yards (fifth-most in franchise history).

Perriman's best season was in 1995, when Detroit's "Great Lakes Offense" was firing on all cylinders. Perriman racked up a career-high 108 catches and 1,488 yards.

4. Johnnie Morton (1994-2001)

Now introducing the second of the Lions' explosive trio in Johnnie Morton, who stayed in the Lions' high-flying offense for longer and arrived later as a first-round pick in 1994.

Morton's impact was two-fold, providing a key diversion of attention from Herman Moore and a determined work ethic that resulted in four 1,000-yard seasons and durability as a starter in each game from 1998 to 2001.

Morton finished his career with 6,499 yards, third-most in franchise history, and the second-longest reception in franchise history, a 98-yard score with the Lions buried deep in their own territory against the Bears on September 27, 1998.

3. Amon-Ra St. Brown (2021-Present)

Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown warms up before a game against the Minnesota Vikings.David Reginek-Imagn Images

The purists might have an issue with this, but any doubts about St. Brown's place at No. 3 on this list, above Morton and Perriman, should be laid to rest with one more strong year for the Lions' top air threat.

Take this: St. Brown already has the third-most receiving touchdowns in Lions history, and his catch percentage (73.7%) is leaps and bounds above the Lions' top five receiving yard leaders, with Golden Tate (69.8%) coming closest among the top 10.

St. Brown has been a dependable and explosive option for Jared Goff on the power slot, and is the only player in league history to record at least 110 catches, 1,200 receiving yards, and 10 receiving touchdowns in three consecutive seasons.

2. Herman Moore (1991-2001)

Moore was the featured wideout in the trio of Perriman and Morton, and earned consistent looks in the air. Moore's 9,174 yards are elite among Lions receivers, and his 62 touchdowns are second-most in Lions history.

Before Calvin Johnson came to town, Moore was the franchise's all-time leader in those categories and was appropriately honored in the Lions' Ring of Honor.

His 1995 season, as was the case with Perriman and Morton, was historic, as he hauled in a then-NFL record 123 passes for 1,686 yards. In 1997, he came close to those numbers, recording 104 catches for 1,293 yards. He was then only the second player in league history to haul in 100 catches in three consecutive seasons, boasting a peak few can ever dream of.

1. Calvin Johnson (2007-2015)

Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson lines up at Ford Field.Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

It feels wrong to call Johnson any name other than his ubiquitous "Megatron" nickname (which just feels befitting to such greatness). With a stellar career spent entirely with Detroit, Johnson finished as one of the most beloved players in franchise history.

With a rare combination of size, speed, and leaping ability, the 6-foot-5 Johnson finished with a franchise record 11,619 yards, which was 27th all-time upon his retirement. His 2012 season remains immortal, with his 1,964 yards still a record, though Cooper Kupp came dangerously close with 1,947 in 2023.

Perhaps the only stain on a sterling legacy was Johnson's abrupt retirement in 2016, which caused him to have to pay back a portion of his signing bonus.

That rift has since been mended (mostly), and Johnson remains the best wide receiver in franchise history and one of the most dominant players of his era. He was elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2021.