With the NFL offseason underway and free agency just over a month away, the Detroit Lions have several internal decisions to make in the coming weeks.
After signing 11 practice squad players to futures deals and re-signing Morice Norris and Netane Muti, the team now has 34 players either already in free agency or set to hit the market. Over the next month, we’ll profile each free agent and analyze whether the Lions should bring them back.
We start with one of Detroit’s easiest decisions.
Tim Patrick
Expectations Heading into 2024
The Lions spent the entire offseason searching for a replacement for Josh Reynolds, who departed for the Denver Broncos in free agency. However, their efforts in free agency didn’t yield a viable solution. By the end of training camp, it became evident that Donovan Peoples-Jones, Daurice Fountain, Maurice Alexander, and Isaiah Williams were not the answer.
That changed when Tim Patrick became available after being cut by the Broncos. Given the Lions’ need for a starting WR-X, Patrick immediately emerged as the top candidate for the role. However, with his recent injury history—a torn ACL in 2022 and a torn Achilles in 2023—there were understandable concerns about whether he could return to his 2020-2021 form, when he recorded back-to-back 700+ yard seasons.
Despite the uncertainty, Patrick brought a strong reputation from Denver as a hard worker, precise route runner, and reliable pass catcher who wasn’t afraid to engage in blocking assignments. In short, there was cautious optimism.
Actual Role in 2024
Regular season — 16 games (9 starts): 33 receptions, 394 yards, 3 TDs (641 snaps)
Postseason — 1 game: 1 reception, 22 yards
PFF Offensive Grade: 66.9 (66th of 110 WRs)
PFF Receiving Grade: 66.0 (69th)
PFF Run Blocking Grade: 63.6 (19th of 142)
After sitting out the season opener and recording just three receptions for 20 yards over the next two games, Patrick quickly became a key contributor to Detroit’s offense.
While his production (33 catches, 394 yards, 3 TDs) didn’t quite match Reynolds’ 2023 output (40 catches, 608 yards, 5 TDs), the Lions never expected him to replicate those numbers. Instead, with Jameson Williams emerging as a true playmaker (jumping from 354 yards in 2023 to 1,001 in 2024), the team needed a steady, reliable presence—something Patrick provided. He caught 33 of 44 targets and, for only the second time in his career, was not credited with a drop by PFF.
More importantly, Patrick embodied the Lions’ “No Block, No Rock” mentality.
“He fits right in with our guys,” coach Dan Campbell said in October. “I mean, he’s just—he’s all in, he’s got no problem doing dirty work. The more he’s—I mean, we’ve got a lot of stuff we’re asking him to do this week. Every week we put more on his plate, we’re asking him to do a lot mentally and physically, which is a good thing.”
