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<p>Big fan of Detroit football? Then check out this list of Detroit Lions wide receivers with photos and seasons as starters.&nbsp;It includes every starting wide receiver from throughout <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/best-detroit-lions-of-all-time?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Detroit Lions history</a>, including current wide receivers and past ones. Featuring 2018-2019 Detroit Lions and some of the greatest NFL&nbsp;wide receivers of all time,&nbsp;the best Lions&nbsp;WRs include Calvin Johnson, Roy Williams, Herman Moore, and Johnnie Morton.</p>

<p>Who are the best wide receivers in Detroit Lions history? Here is every player who has ever held the position of Detroit Lions&nbsp;starting wide receiver. Vote below, then head over and check out the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-detroit-lions-kickers-ever/ranker-nfl" target="_blank">top Lions kickers ever</a> and <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/every-detroit-lions-tight-end-ranked/ranker-nfl" target="_blank">best Lions tight ends</a>.</p>


The 40+ Best Detroit Lions Wide Receivers, Ranked

The Best Detroit Lions Wide Receivers of All Time

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FREEFORM

Calvin Johnson

Calvin Johnson Jr.  (born September 29, 1985) is a former American football wide receiver. A two-time All-American at Georgia Tech, Johnson was selected second overall by the Detroit Lions of the National Football League in the 2007 NFL Draft, and he played for the Lions for all of his professional career. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wide receivers of all time despite his early retirement at age 30 in 2016.On March 14, 2012, Johnson signed an eight-year, $132 million contract extension with the Lions, one of the largest sports contracts ever.
Johnson had a rare combination of size (6 ft 5 in and 239 lbs), catching ability, speed (40-yard dash in 4.35 seconds), strength, leaping ability, and body control. He was nicknamed Megatron, after a Transformers character; the name was given to him by Lions teammate Roy Williams and caught on with fans.
On December 22, 2012, Johnson broke Jerry Rice's single-season record of 1,848 receiving yards, and finished the 2012 season with 1,964 yards, an average of almost 123 yards per game. In that same game versus the Atlanta Falcons, Johnson also set the NFL records for consecutive 100-yard games (8, later tied by Adam Thielen) and consecutive games with 10 or more receptions (4). He tied Michael Irvin's record for most 100-yard games in a season with 11.

Herman Moore

Herman Joseph Moore (born October 20, 1969) is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in National Football League (NFL) for twelve seasons.  He played college football for the Virginia Cavaliers.  He was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the first round of the 1991 NFL Draft, and also played for the NFL's New York Giants.

Golden Tate

Golden Herman Tate III (born August 2, 1988) is an American football wide receiver for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Notre Dame, where he was recognized as an All-American, and was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the second round of the 2010 NFL Draft. He has also played for the Philadelphia Eagles and Detroit Lions, with whom he made a Pro Bowl appearance.

Kenny Golladay

Kenny Golladay (born November 3, 1993) is an American football wide receiver for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Northern Illinois and North Dakota, and was drafted by the Lions in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft. Golladay attended and played high school football at Chicago's St. Rita High School. Golladay began his collegiate career at North Dakota in 2012. As a freshman, Golladay had 30 catches for 429 yards and a touchdown. In his sophomore season in 2013, Golladay had a breakout year with a team-high 69 catches for 884 yards and eight touchdowns.

Johnnie Morton

Johnnie James Morton Jr. (born October 7, 1971) is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) during the 1990s and 2000s.  He played college football for the University of Southern California (USC), and was recognized as an All-American in 1993.  Originally drafted by the Detroit Lions in the first round in the 1994 NFL Draft, he also played professionally for the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers of the NFL. Morton also had a brief career in mixed martial arts fighting in 2007.



Marvin Jones

Marvin Lewis Jones Jr. (born March 12, 1990) is an American football wide receiver for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the fifth round of the 2012 NFL Draft. He played college football at California. Jones attended Etiwanda High School, in Rancho Cucamonga, California, from 2004 to 2008. As a senior, he had 81 receptions for 1,040 yards and 10 touchdowns, leading the Eagles to a share of the Baseline League championship. He is Etiwanda's all-time leading receiver and was a Super Prep magazine All-American.

Brett Perriman

Brett Perriman (born October 10, 1965) is a former American football wide receiver in the NFL for the New Orleans Saints (1988–1990), the Detroit Lions (1991–1996), the Kansas City Chiefs (1997), and the Miami Dolphins (1997). He played college football at the University of Miami.

Nate Burleson

Nathaniel Eugene Burleson (born August 19, 1981) is an American football commentator and former wide receiver. He played college football for the Nevada Wolf Pack and was drafted into the National Football League (NFL) by the Minnesota Vikings in the third round of the 2003 NFL Draft. Burleson was also a member of the Seattle Seahawks and Detroit Lions. Burleson is now working with NFL Network on Good Morning Football and CBS Sports on The NFL Today.

Bill Schroeder

Bill, Willy or William Schroeder or Schröder may refer to:

Roy Williams

Roy Eugene Williams Jr. (born December 20, 1981) is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for the Detroit Lions, Dallas Cowboys, and Chicago Bears. He played college football for the University of Texas Longhorns.

Jeremy Ross

Jeremy Ross is an American football wide receiver.

Leonard Thompson

Leonard Irwin Thompson (born July 28, 1952 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League who spent his entire NFL career with the Detroit Lions (1975–1986).
Thompson was an eighth-round pick in the 1975 NFL Draft out of Oklahoma State. He spent his first five seasons as a backup at halfback and wideout for the Lions (his position at halfback was why he wore #39 even after playing exclusively as a receiver, which is technically outside of the NFL's uniform numbering system [receivers were only limited to wearing numbers between 80 and 89 then]). On December 11, 1977, Thompson blocked a David Lee punt on the Baltimore Colts 21 yard line, returning it 2 yards for a touchdown with 14 seconds left in the game.  The clutch play gave the Lions an improbable 13-10 victory.
In 1980, Thompson earned a starting role as wide receiver opposite Freddie Scott.  Thompson caught 19 passes for 511 yards and 3 touchdowns.  He caught another 214 passes over the next six seasons, including 26 touchdowns. He would lead the Lions in receiving in 1985 with 51 catches, for 736 yards and 5 scores.
Thompson’s career ended when the Lions released him before the start of the 1987 season.  He played all 12 seasons of his career with the Lions, scoring 39 total touchdowns.

Anquan Boldin

Anquan Kenmile Boldin Sr. (; born October 3, 1980) is a former American football wide receiver who spent 14 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Florida State and was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the second round of the 2003 NFL draft. He also played for the Baltimore Ravens, San Francisco 49ers and Detroit Lions.
Boldin was the 2003 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, was selected to three Pro Bowls and won Super Bowl XLVII with the Ravens. In 2015, he was named the Walter Payton Man of the Year for his community service.

Tai Streets

Tai Lamar Streets (born April 20, 1977) is a former professional American football wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected with the second pick of the sixth round of the 1999 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers. He also played for the Detroit Lions in 2004. He was the leading receiver for the national champion 1997 Michigan Wolverines football team. Over the course of his career he was notable for fourth quarter performances in various bowl games and NFL playoff games.  As a professional athlete, he was known for his modesty. As an amateur athlete, he was known as one of the best high school athletes in the city of Chicago.
In high school, he was an All-American in football and as a senior led his team to a 9–0 regular season before losing in the playoffs. In basketball, he was an All-State selection by numerous publications and led his team past Kevin Garnett's high school team to reach the finals of the state championship playoff tournament. Despite losing in the finals, he was the highest votegetter on the All-tournament team.  In track, he was a state long jump champion as a junior and runner-up as a senior when he also helped his school's 4 x 400 metres relay team finish third in the state. In 1995, he was widely regarded as the best high school athlete in the Chicago metropolitan area, winning athlete of the year awards from the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times and Illinois High School Association.  He is considered to be one of the greatest three-sport athletes in the history of Illinois.Streets led the Michigan Wolverines football team in receiving yards each season from 1996–1998.  He had two touchdown receptions in the 1998 Rose Bowl, which clinched a share of the national championship.  During his years as the primary receiver, there were quarterback controversies each year with battles among Brian Griese, Scott Dreisbach, Tom Brady and Drew Henson. As a senior, he was voted football team MVP and All-Big Ten Conference second-team wide receiver.  That season, he posted five 100-yard games and totaled over one thousand yards.  He played in the Senior Bowl and was selected for the Hula Bowl.  He was injured right before the 1999 draft causing him to slip from a projected second-round selection to a sixth-round choice.  As a sophomore, he played part of the season for the 1996–97 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team, which won the 1997 National Invitation Tournament, but has since vacated the championship due to the University of Michigan basketball scandal.
Streets had modest success as a professional in five seasons with the 49ers.  He began as a fourth wide receiver on a team with perennial Pro Bowl receivers Jerry Rice and Terrell Owens, but he eventually became a starter before moving on to play his final season with the Lions.  His career was highlighted by playoff performances in which he caught at least four receptions for at least 50 yards in all three playoff games.  He recorded two fourth quarter playoff touchdowns one of which was the game-winner in a 24-point comeback victory and the other of which was a game-tying touchdown in a losing effort.

Larry Foster

Larry D. Foster (born November 7, 1976 in Harvey, Louisiana) is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League. He was signed by the Detroit Lions as an undrafted free agent in 2000. He played college football at LSU.
Foster also played for the Arizona Cardinals.

Germane Crowell

Germane L. Crowell (born September 13, 1976) is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League. In the 1998 NFL draft, Crowell was selected in the second round (50th overall) by the Detroit Lions. He played five seasons for the Lions from 1998 until 2002.  He is the older brother of NFL linebacker Angelo Crowell.

Pete Mandley

William "Pete" H. Mandley (born July 29, 1961 in Mesa, Arizona), is a former professional American football player who was selected by the Detroit Lions in the 2nd round of the 1984 NFL Draft. A 5'10" 191 lbs. wide receiver from Northern Arizona, Mandley played in 7 NFL seasons from 1984-1990. His best year as a pro came during the 1987 season for the Lions when he caught 58 receptions for 720 yards and 7 touchdowns.
On August 16, 1987, Mandley and his family were supposed to be on Northwest Airlines Flight 255 from Detroit to Phoenix when his daughter had taken ill.  He cancelled his reservation and decided that he and his family would stay in Detroit an extra day.  He later learned that the flight had crashed on takeoff killing all but one on board.

Mark Nichols

Mark Nichols is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League. Nichols was selected in the first round by the Detroit Lions out of San Jose State University in the 1981 NFL Draft.

Mike Furrey

Michael Thomas Furrey (; born May 12, 1977) is a former American football wide receiver and safety and current wide receivers coach for the Chicago Bears. He was signed by the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent in 2000. He played college football at Northern Iowa and Ohio State University.
Furrey was also a member of the New York Dragons, Las Vegas Outlaws, St. Louis Rams, Detroit Lions, Cleveland Browns, and Washington Redskins.

Freddie Scott

Freddie Lee Scott (born August 5, 1952 in Grady, Arkansas) is a former American football wide receiver who played from 1974 through 1983 in the National Football League. In 2001, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
His son, Freddie Scott II also played wide receiver for Penn State University, and in the NFL from 1996 through 1998 for the Detroit Lions and the Indianapolis Colts.  Another son, Brandon Scott, played for Bowling Green State University.

Terry Greer

Terry Greer (born September 27, 1957) is a former professional American and Canadian football player who played wide receiver with the Canadian Football League Toronto Argonauts and the NFL Cleveland Browns as well as the San Francisco 49ers. He held the CFL record for most catches in a season; he is a member of the Argonauts all-time roster and his #10 has been honored by the team. Terry Greer is known as the first to gain 2,000 yards in a 16-game season with the Argonauts. he had played then with marvelous players such as Jerry Rice and Joe Montana when playing for San Francisco.

Willie Green

Willie Aaron Green (born April 2, 1966) is a former professional American football wide receiver who played for the Detroit Lions, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Carolina Panthers, and the Denver Broncos in the National Football League. He played college football at the University of Mississippi.

Az-Zahir Hakim

Az-Zahir Ali Hakim (born June 3, 1977) is an American football coach and former wide receiver. He played college football at San Diego State. He was drafted by the St. Louis Rams in the fourth round (96th overall) of the 1998 NFL Draft. He also was a member of the Detroit Lions, New Orleans Saints, San Diego Chargers, Miami Dolphins, and Las Vegas Locomotives. As a coach, he served as the wide receivers coach of the San Diego Fleet of the Alliance of American Football in 2019.

Jeff Chadwick

Jeffrey Allan Chadwick (born December 16, 1960), is a former professional American football player. A 6'3", 185-lb. wide receiver from Grand Valley State University, Chadwick was never drafted by a National Football League team, but did play in 126 games over 10 NFL seasons from 1983 to 1992 for the Detroit Lions, the Seattle Seahawks, and the Los Angeles Rams, catching a career total of 4549 yards and 27 touchdowns.Chadwick attended Divine Child High School in Dearborn, Michigan before attending Grand Valley State, where he competed in track and field as well as football from 1979 to 1982.  In 1993 he was admitted to Grand Valley's hall of fame.He was also  Receiver/Tight End Coach at Adrenaline Athletic Training in Riverside, CA.  He is currently living in Clare, MI operating a family resort - Sunset Shores - www.sunsetshores.net
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Scottie Vines

Scottie Vines (born April 17, 1979 in Alexander City, Alabama) is an American football player who played wide receiver for the Detroit Lions.  He played college football for the University of Wyoming.



Big fan of Detroit football? Then check out this list of Detroit Lions wide receivers with photos and seasons as starters.&nbsp;It includes every starting ...