If reports that Calvin Johnson has told his head coach , select teammates, and family he's retiring are true, expect the team to fill the void through the draft.
That from Tim Twentyman, lead writer at Detroitlions.com, who says the free-agent market at wide receiver isn't very strong this year.
"Alshon Jeffery is probably the top free agent there and he obviously has some question marks as well," says Twentyman. "So I think the Lions would go two fold and probably try to find something in free agency and then look to the draft too, potentially in the top three rounds." He adds that Tight End Eric Ebron will now be forced to live up to the 10th overall pick in the 2014 draft, while Wide Receiver Golden Tate and Running Back Theo Riddick have already proven to be dangerous pass catchers at their respective positions.
A report from ESPN yesterday quoted a source as saying Johnson was going to retire because of nagging injuries and his overall declining health from nine seasons in the NFL.
After the season Johnson issued a statement that he was pondering his future and the Lions organization is standing by its statement that they're giving Johnson as much time as he needs to make a decision.
If Johnson does retire it will save the Lions $11.1-million in cap space next season but will still count $12.9-million against the cap.