One national outlet foresees big things happening for at least two young Detroit Lions players during the 2024 season.
Dallas Robinson of Pro Football Network recently revealed his predictions for which players will break out in 2024. No rookies were selected for the list, and players who have already earned end-of-season awards were also excluded.
Robinson specified that some of the breakout candidates may turn into “All-Pros and become household names,” while others may “simply improve and morph into above-average starters.”
The first Lion selected was wide receiver Jameson Williams, who has been one of the team's biggest standouts this offseason. Regarding that selection, Robinson said the following:
He missed most of his 2022 rookie campaign after tearing his ACL in Alabama’s NCAA title loss to Georgia, posting just one catch on nine targets in six games. Then, in 2023, Williams picked up a six-game suspension (later reduced to four) after violating the NFL’s gambling policy.
Still, Williams came on near the end of last season and flashed through Detroit’s playoff run. The Lions fully expect him to absorb their WR2 role behind Amon-Ra St. Brown after letting Josh Reynolds walk in free agency.
The second Lion to be selected was defensive lineman Levi Onwuzurike, who has been right up there with Williams in terms of the team's biggest offseason standouts. Regarding Onwuzurike, Robinson offered:
Onwuzurike, entering his contract year, has received nothing but praise this offseason. In June, head coach Dan Campbell said the Washington product had a “really good spring“; in July, Campbell said, “It’s clear that (Onwuzurike is) one of the best. It’s just clear.”
It’s not just Detroit’s HC. In August, Lions guard and 12-year NFL vet Kevin Zeitler said, “I think we’re gonna have two $20-plus million D-tackles soon,” referring to Onwuzurike and fellow contract-year Lions DT Alim McNeill.
Detroit free agent addition DJ Reader could miss the beginning of the 2024 season while recovering from a torn quad. Onwuzurike is first in line to pick up Reader’s snaps, and if he thrives, will enter a shallow 2025 free agent DT market and collect the hefty contract Zeitler projected.
Williams and Onwuzurike will be pivotal to the Lions’ success in 2024.
Williams needs to take over the No. 2 wide receiver role to take some of the burden off of Amon-Ra St. Brown. Onwuzurike will be counted on to help spell veteran DJ Reader and 2023 breakout player, Alim McNeil, and he may even see time on the edge after getting reps there in practice this offseason.
