Josh Reynolds was a dependable No. 3 receiver for the Lions, even if he might be remembered for a pair of costly drops in the NFC title game. The club wanted to bring him back this year, and let him know it ahead of free agency.
As recently as Tuesday, GM Brad Holmes said the Lions were "still having dialogue" with Reynolds and hoped to re-sign him.
"In terms of targets that are still out there, obviously Josh Reynolds, he’s one that was part of the original plans," Holmes said at the NFL owners meetings.
On Wednesday, Reynolds was off to Denver. The veteran receiver has signed a two-year deal worth up to $14 million with the Broncos, according to ESPN. Given the respect he earned from Dan Campbell over two and a half seasons with the Lions, it's perhaps no surprise that Reynolds lands with Campbell's mentor Sean Payton.
"J-Rey, I don't think it’s any secret what we think about him as far as the type of player he is, the unselfishness, the dirty work, the versatility," Campbell said Tuesday at the owners meetings. "Look, I love J-Rey, and that doesn’t mean something won’t get done."
Reynolds was third on the Lions last season in catches (40), yards (608) and touchdowns (5) and first in yards per catch (15.2). 80 percent of his catches went for first downs, the second best mark in the NFL. He was due a raise from his two-year, $6 million contract in Detroit, and he wound up finding it in Denver.
The Lions did re-sign Donovan Peoples-Jones this month after acquiring him from the Browns last season. He currently projects as their No. 3 receiver behind Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams. Kalif Raymond will be in the mix as well, and the Lions are expected to add to add to the receivers room in the draft.