The end could be near for Marvin Jones and the Lions
Look, I hate this. I really do. Much like many Detroit Lions fans, I love Marvin Jones. He's a great guy and has had a great career. The problem is that everything must come to an end at some point. For Jones and the Lions, that end could be relatively soon. The 33 year old […]
Look, I hate this. I really do. Much like many Detroit Lions fans, I love Marvin Jones. He's a great guy and has had a great career. The problem is that everything must come to an end at some point. For Jones and the Lions, that end could be relatively soon.
The 33 year old receiver has had a lengthy career. Much of his time was spent with the Lions. From 2016 to 2020, Jones had the best years of his NFL career. His 2017 season was dominant and gave us one of the most absurd catches ever. That was the year he became Xavier Rhodes' father.
He left after the 2020 season and was a nice contributor for the Jaguars for two seasons. It was a bit of surprise when Jones signed back with the Lions during free agency. It was one that I don't think anyone had on their radar. Sadly, it has not worked out.
In four games, Jones has played 123 snaps and has been targeted just seven times and caught two of those passes. One of them was fumbled in the red zone in Week 1. Actually, six of those seven targets were all on Week 1. He's only been targeted once since then. That was Thursday against the Packers. He was not able to bring in the catch.
If it were up to me, Jones would just hold down a roster spot as a tribute for all the good stuff he did in Detroit, but it's not. The reality is that things are changing rapidly with this team and they're going to need available roster spots soon. Julian Okwara was just designated to return form injured reserve, Josh Paschal and Khlail Dorsey are eligible to return after Sunday and James Houston isn't too far behind them.
There's guys like Zonovan Knight, Darrell Daniels and Kayode Awosika that could head back to the practice squad, but I'm not sure the Lions would want do that. Especially with Knight and Daniels.
Frankly, even if they do send those guys back, Jones is kind of sitting on a receiver spot that should maybe go to one of the younger guys like Dylan Drummond or Daurice Fountain. Either that or the Lions should give some more shots to Antoine Green. He's been on the 53-man roster this whole time and has only played 36 snaps.
What would it cost the Lions to move on from Jones? Not a whole lot. They would have to play him just over $2 million in dead cap if they release him. It would be cheaper to trade him and they'd open up some cap space, but it seems like it'd be kind of hard to find a trade partner seeing as though Jones is a bit older and doesn't have a lot of production this season. I'm not saying it's impossible, but it's more unlikely.
Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe the Lions plan to work Jones into the gameplan more. I just don't see that happening. Especially with the return of Jameson Williams and the fact that everyone ahead of him is playing so well right now. I'm afraid it's just time to move on.