OT: Anquan Boldin to Lions

Submitted by JClay on

1 year deal. 69 passes for 789yds and 4 TDs last season. Assuming price is OK, Lions are doing as decent a job as a team can do in replacing Calvin Johnson's production.

James Burrill Angell

July 26th, 2016 at 2:45 PM ^

No one is kidding themselves that the Lions are an average team and this won't change that but after Golden Tate and Marvin Jones, the receiving corps was marginal. That's a good signing.

Wolverine In Exile

July 26th, 2016 at 2:46 PM ^

Lions weren't going to replace Calvin Johnson with one guy. Boldin gives them the big strong receiver that can outmuscle a smaller CB, Jones has the speed on the outside, and Tate is still running around in zone holes made by the others. I expect a lot of 3 WR sets for Stafford to throw from this year. 

CorkyCole

July 26th, 2016 at 8:07 PM ^

While comical, Boldin was still a very good player last year with a surprising amount of athleticism for his age. Of course he will regress a little, but you won't be able to find those kind of ball skills anywhere else. He will be a great chain mover if nothing else.

Tater

July 27th, 2016 at 9:35 AM ^

Boldin was a 3-sport star and Florida's Mr Football as a QB in HS: possibly the best HS QB I ever saw.   He wwould have been a perfect Harbaugh QB: the best athlete on the team.  He got lost in the shuffle at FSU but he was smart enough to move to WR.

Great pickup...

MGoVoldemort

July 26th, 2016 at 4:14 PM ^

I'm no Lions slappy, but basically the same roster was a Hail Mary away from playoff contention last year. Outside of the WR core, you could make an argument that the roster is deeper. I'm not saying they're a playoff team, but this is still a 7-9 roster, and with a few bounces here and there they'll probably be in playoff contention a good deal of the season.

Rabbit21

July 26th, 2016 at 2:48 PM ^

Good signing for depth and gives them a nice, reliable option.  Not going to take them over the top, but it's a decent summertime move.

ckersh74

July 26th, 2016 at 2:52 PM ^

He's not a #1 at this point. Fine. We've all known that for a couple years now. But if he can give us 1 year as a #3 at his age, I'd take that in a second.

TdK71

July 26th, 2016 at 2:54 PM ^

But he brings toughness and experience to the positon for the Lions. Calvin's departure leaves a huge hole in the offensive production. Boldin will help to take the pressure off Tate.

hunterjoe

July 26th, 2016 at 3:15 PM ^

I like the move.  No, he's not going to do what he did in his prime but there's no reason to think he can't be suitable for this offense in the role he'll be asked to fill.  

Tex_Ind_Blue

July 26th, 2016 at 3:27 PM ^

I remember his first game against the Lions. That was a bad match-up for them. He kept catching and no one seemed to have an idea how to stop him!