Marvin Jones is primed to join the Detroit Lions, who can plug in the top free agent wide receiver available into a gaping void created with Calvin Johnson’s retirement Tuesday.
The agreement with the former fifth-round pick can become official Wednesday at 4 p.m.
The Lions also addressed the defensive side by re-signing starting defensive tackle Haloti Ngata to a two-year deal, NFL.com reported.
Most of the attention is on the expected signing of Jones. He will not be celebrated in the same light as Johnson, an All-Pro who goes down as one of the best players in franchise history. However, the 25-year-old brings a skill set similar to that of Golden Tate, who was not considered a great receiver with the Seattle Seahawks but produced in a big way for the Lions.
Jones stands 6-2 with speed to exploit one-on-one man coverage as he did as the running mate to A.J. Green in Cincinnati.
In three seasons with the Bengals, Jones had 134 receptions for 1,729 yards and 15 touchdowns. Of course, Johnson holds the single-season record with 1,964 yards in 2012, one of the many illustrations of the massive differences between the two receivers.
The Lions are looking for more balance, and with tight end Eric Ebron expected to get more chances, and Jones is a top competitor who will fight through coverage and do everything he can to save Matthew Stafford from incompletions and interceptions.
Ngata is 32 years old and has played 10 NFL seasons for the Baltimore Ravens and Lions. He played 14 games for the Lions in his first season in Detroit in 2015, and he had 2.5 sacks and 25 quarterback hurries to go along with 15 tackles and 10 assists last season.
Ngata was named to the Pro Bowl five consecutive years from 2009 to 2013, and was a first-team all-NFL selection in 2010 and 2011.
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