As the Detroit Lions have risen over the last couple years, the talent level of the roster has naturally risen a lot too as general manager Brad Holmes has drafted well. Moves to sign veterans are done with some level of prejudice toward someone being a good fit.
The days of signing players who had few if any other options, and/or having to overpay to sign some of those players are over. Detroit has become a place players where want to play, and stay long-term if they can.
As the Lions choose players, however they acquire them, others have fallen down the depth chart, just not been prioritized to retain, etc. Some former starters in Detroit are still available this offseason, now into June with OTAs nearing an end around the league.
Specifically, these three former Lions’ starters might be done as NFL players.
Jones came back to the Lions as a free agent in 2023. He didn’t produce much (five catches for 35 yards in six games), before leaving the team last October to handle a personal matter and he was released so he could do that without feeling like he had to rush back.
All offseason, there have been no indications if Jones’ personal matter has been resolved or if he has any plans to come back to football. His peak is behind him, but he was still a useful receiver as he crossed into his 30’s. If things off the field are good, there are NFL receiving corps out there who could benefit from his veteran presence and production as a depth receiver.
It’s unfortunate because of the circumstances that led to him leaving the Lions in the middle of last season. But it’s possible, if not increasingly likely the longer there’s no news about him and/or any news he has signed with a team, that Jones’ career is simply over at age 34.