Detroit Lions' receiving tandem was a true dual threat in 2024

Two Detroit Lions wide receivers showed out in a big way last season - not just for the team, but across the entire league.

To begin with, a recent Lionswire report by Jeff Risdon pointed out that Jameson Williams ranked 4th in the NFL for yards after catch per reception (YAC/R), for all receivers who caught more than 50 passes. His 7.8 YAC/R trailed only Green Bay's Tucker Kraft (9.6), San Francisco's Deebo Samuels (8.4), and Buffalo's Khalil Shakur (8.2).

Williams was selected during the 2022 NFL Draft just ten picks after they acquired star EDGE Aidan Hutchinson, and it took a major trade with division rival Minnesota to accomplish. But a combination of injury rehab in his rookie year and a lengthy suspension at the beginning of 2023 had led to questions about whether he was worth the effort.

It didn't take long for him to silence his doubters during the 2024 campaign, though.

Right out of the gate at home against the Rams in Week 1, Jamo showed just how improved his route running, and his connection with QB Jared Goff, had become with several electric plays, including an explosive crossing route, a deep bomb for his first TD of the season, and a short throw that became a long gain as he simply outran the defender.

That continued throughout the season as he put up big game after big game. By season's end, he hit just over 1,000 yards through the air, scoring 7 touchdowns and 42 first downs on 58 catches. He also showed off his speed on the ground, with 11 rushes for 61 yards and a score.

Amon-Ra St. Brown continued to excel

Of course, he wasn't the only great receiver in Detroit last year. While Williams is known for lengthening the field and being a deep threat, his teammate Amon-Ra St. Brown is one of the best at finding ways to get open in the middle of the field.

Acquired via GM Brad Holmes' first draft in 2021 in the 4th round, St. Brown has made a career out of finding and exploiting weaknesses in opposing defenses. Last year was no exception, as he racked up 1,263 yards on 115 catches. His Catch % of 81.56% ranked 3rd in the league for receivers with 50+ catches - and he had the second-most receptions of any receiver across the NFL. Only Ja'Marr Chase from the Bengals, with 127 catches, did better.

St. Brown's 12 receiving touchdowns weren't the only times he contributed to the scoreboard, either. On two separate occasions, he caught a pass, only to chuck it to a teammate in a hook-and-ladder score. First, in a Week 3 game against the Cardinals, his lateral to RB Jahmyr Gibbs in the 2nd quarter proved the difference in a 20-13 victory.

Late in the season, he'd repeat the trick play, shoveling a lateral back to Williams, again for a score, in a Week 17 revenge victory over the 49ers. He also added "quarterback" to his repertoire, as he threw a perfect TD pass to Goff in a win over the Seahawks in Week 4.

What's next for this talented pair of receivers?

The team obviously values both players. For St. Brown, he scored a 4 year extension during the 2024 offseason granting him more than $120 million, nearly two-thirds of it guaranteed.

As far as Williams is concerned, the team picked up his fifth-year option (along with Hutchinson's) just a couple of months ago, with an eye towards re-signing both 2022 first-rounders. While contract extensions for both players are still being rumored, the team may have caught some good news about how much extra room they have to work with to keep them around longer.

READ MORE: Jared Goff excelled in surprising category among his peers last season

As the team turns its eyes to the new season, both receivers will look to capitalize on their own successes, as well as figure out how to fold rookie Isaac TeSlaa into the mix. The third-round pick primarily played as a slot receiver for Arkansas.

Considering how much Brad Holmes thought of him - and what the team coughed up to trade up for him - he'll need to quickly pick up on hard-learned lessons from both of his prospective mentors.

With the team's championship aspirations fully intact, the Lions will continue to lean heavily on its receiving corps to blaze a path to, and through, the playoffs. St. Brown and Williams figure to shoulder that burden with the same poise, grace, and explosiveness they showed last season.