The Detroit Lions didn’t stop upgrading their offense after the NFL Draft — they kept the momentum going by landing one of the most intriguing undrafted wide receivers on the market. Jackson Meeks, fresh off a breakout year at Syracuse, is now a Lion thanks to a sizable financial commitment from the team.
Meeks made waves last season after transferring from Georgia to Syracuse, where he racked up over 1,000 receiving yards and seven touchdowns on 71 catches. That kind of production turned heads across the NFL, even though Meeks isn’t known as a top-tier athlete — he ran a 4.64-second 40-yard dash — but his knack for winning contested catches (he ranked No. 2 in the country with 21) made him stand out.
According to The Athletic, the Lions gave Meeks $200,000 guaranteed — a clear sign they see real potential. And there’s a fun connection here: Meeks is the nephew of Za’Darius Smith, adding a little family flavor to Detroit’s roster.
Beyond Meeks, the Lions added several weapons for Jared Goff during and after the draft, including Arkansas receiver Isaac TeSlaa (third round), Georgia’s Dominic Lovett (seventh round), and UMass wideout Jakobie Keeney-James as an undrafted free agent. They also brought in Ole Miss tight end Caden Prieskorn, who’s got the size (6’6”, 246 pounds) and strong hands to push for a roster spot, even if athleticism isn’t his calling card.
One subtraction from the receiver room: Detroit parted ways with Antoine Green, who missed last season with a concussion and was released after the draft.
Detroit has a strong track record of turning undrafted free agents into contributors, and with this new crop, there’s a good chance that tradition continues into the 2025 season.
Lions Bet on Potential: Jackson Meeks Joins WR Room With $200K Deal
