The Lions Have a Weird, Wonderful Problem Brewing at Tight End
Training camp starts in a week. Rookies report soon, veterans follow, and by the end of July every team in the NFC North will be back at full strength trying to figure out who they actually are. This is when overlooked guys earn roster spots, when coaches realize their depth chart is wrong, when fans start paying attention to names they ignored all offseason.
For the Lions, that name is Jackson Meeks.
And yes, I know what you’re thinking. Another tight end? Really? We have Sam LaPorta, Brock Wright, and now we’re supposed to care about a guy who came in as a receiver and spent last season blocking out of necessity?
Yes. You should care.
From Receiver to Tight End to Something In Between
Meeks entered the league as a wide receiver. He weighed 210 pounds and the Lions needed bodies at tight end so they used him there anyway. Now he’s up to 235 pounds and the coaching staff is fully converting him into a tight end slash wide receiver hybrid who could give defensive coordinators absolute fits.
Think about it. The Lions want to run more 12 and 13 personnel this season. Meeks gives them the ability to line up in heavy personnel and then shift into something entirely different just by putting him in motion. One second you’re looking at two tight ends on the field, the next Meeks is split out wide and you’ve got a matchup nightmare.
That is, if he can block.
The One Thing That Matters
Because that’s the question, isn’t it? Can he handle the physical part of the job? Can he hold up at the point of attack against linebackers and edge rushers who outweigh him by 30 pounds? The Lions have an entire training camp to figure that out, and if the answer is yes, this offense just got a whole lot more creative.
The Lions have a toolbox full of weapons. Amon-Ra St. Brown. Jameson Williams. Jahmyr Gibbs. Sam LaPorta. If Meeks can block even halfway decently, the Lions get to add a chess piece that doesn’t fit into any traditional category. That’s the kind of thing that keeps defensive coordinators up at night.
Worth Watching
We know who the Lions are at most positions. The depth chart is pretty much set. But Meeks is one of those guys who could quietly force his way into a real role if he shows out over the next few weeks. He’s not going to make headlines in May. He will in August if this works.
If Meeks is still on this roster and getting reps at a position he didn’t play a year ago, it’s because the front office sees something real.
Training camp will tell us if they’re right.
Is Jackson Meeks a legitimate weapon or just another camp body who looks good in shorts? Drop your take below.
