Perhaps the biggest casualty suffered by any team this offseason was the Lions' loss of Calvin Johnson. To soften the blow, the Lions signed Marvin Jones away from the Bengals. Now, they're reportedly taking a look at another receiver, who's one of 13 players in the history of the game with 1,000 career receptions.
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Anquan Boldin is visiting Detroit on Monday.
Former Ravens' WR Anquan Boldin, who worked with Lions' HC Jim Caldwell in Baltimore, is visiting Detroit today, per sources.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 13, 2016
Boldin most recently resided in San Francisco, where he caught 237 passes for 3,030 yards and 16 touchdowns in three seasons. Though he was 35 and played on a porous 49ers team last year, Boldin still managed to be productive in the form of 69 receptions, 789 yards, and four touchdowns.
The 49ers let him walk in the offseason, which made sense because they're in the middle of a rebuild under a new head coach and Boldin is nearing the final days of his historic career. He ranks 12th all-time in receptions and 17th in receiving yards.
In 2012, when Lions coach Jim Caldwell served as the Ravens quarterbacks coach and interim offensive coordinator, Boldin racked up 65 receptions, 921 yards, and four touchdowns. So, clearly, Caldwell understands what Boldin brings to a team. He also probably realizes he needs to upgrade the position group in Detroit.
After Jones and Golden Tate, the Lions' receiving group is thin, featuring players like Jeremy Kerley and TJ Jones. As ESPN's Adam Caplan reported, the Lions signed Andre Roberts on Monday, but he's hardly a solution.
They also seem to be experiencing some injury issues thus far:
Kerley hasn't practice in 2 wks, Fuller out indefinitely following foot surgery, Jones missed time earlier in spring https://t.co/DrDCSIlSqs
— Dave Birkett (@davebirkett) June 13, 2016
Boldin, in the right circumstances as a secondary option, could be dangerous. Plus, he'd fit in with Matthew Stafford given Stafford's lack of precision and accuracy with the football. Boldin's a big-bodied receiver with the ability to pluck away passes without gaining separation from defenders. He's not on Johnson's level, who routinely made Stafford look better, but he can help rescue some of the flaws Stafford exhibits by winning the 50-50 balls.
