This might be the season that 24-year old Calvin Johnson has a true breakout season for the Lions.  He played in 14 games (all starts) for the Lions last season and he caught 67 passes for 984 yards (14.7 avg) with 5 TD grabs.  He also carried the ball 7 times for 73 yards (10.4 ypc) last season.  Johnson has now played in 45 games (40 starts) in his three years with the Lions and he has caught 193 passes for 3,071 yards (15.9 avg) with 21 TD grabs.  He has also carried the ball 14 times for 124 yards (8.9 ypc) with 1 TD run in his career.  I really think this is the year that Johnson will make a Pro Bowl….if Matt Stafford stays healthy most of the year.

28-year old Nate Burleson will give Calvin Johnson a nice running partner for the first time in his career.  Burleson played in 13 games (12 starts) for the Seahawks last season and he caught 63 passes for 812 yards (12.9 avg) with 3 TD grabs.  He has now played in 90 games (65 starts) in his NFL career and he has caught 263 passes for 3,547 yards (13.5 avg) with 27 TD grabs.  Burleson will be a solid #2 WR for the Lions in 2010 and beyond.

29-year old Bryant Johnson will likely be the Lions #3 WR in 2010.  Johnson played in 16 games (all starts) for the Lions last season and he caught 35 passes for 417 yards (11.9 avg) with 3 TD grabs.  He has now played in 109 games (67 starts) in his seven years in the NFL and he has caught 290 passes for 3,638 yards (12.5 avg) with 15 TD grabs.  Johnson will be a solid #3 guy for the Lions in 2010.

32-year old Dennis Northcutt gives the Lions a very deep WR corps for 2010.  He played in 16 games (2 starts) for the Lions last season and he caught 35 passes for 357 yards (10.2 avg) with 1 TD grab.  Northcutt has now played in 144 games (61 starts) in which he has caught 399 passes for 4,941 yards (12.4 avg) with 18 TD grabs.  He has also carried the ball 52 times for 366 yards (7.0 ypc) with 1 TD run in his career.

24-year old Derrick Williams didn’t show much as a rookie last season for the Lions.  He played in 12 games (11 starts) for the Lions last year and he caught 6 passes for 52 yards (8.7 avg).  He also carried the ball 1 time for 4 yards last season.  Williams will have to step up if he wants to keep getting paid to play football.

Rookie 7th round pick Tim Toone will have a hard time making the Lions’ roster.  He is only 5’10″, 185 pounds and he played his ball at Weber State so he will be behind the eight ball when training camp opens.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE LIONS WRs in 2010:  B

The Lions have signed 28-year old linebacker Isaiah Ekejiuba to a 2-year deal.  He played in 16 games for the Raiders last season and he made 16 tackles.  Ekejiuba has now played in 64 games in his NFL career and he has 49 tackles and 1 forced fumble.  Ekejiuba is a solid special teams player and that will be his main role for the Lions.  Don’t look for him to play much at linebacker this year or next.

25-year old Brandon Pettigrew was solid as a rookie last season for the Lions.  He played in 11 games (all starts) for the Lions last year and he caught 30 passes for 346 yards (11.5 avg) with 2 TD grabs.  Pettigrew blew out one of his knees last season but the Lions expect him to be ready for training camp which is excellent news.

27-year old Tony Scheffler will be a huge addition for the Lions as they acquired him from the Broncos this spring.  Scheffler played in 15 games (9 starts) for the Broncos last season and he caught 31 passes for 416 yards (13.4 avg) with 2 TD grabs.  He has now played in 57 games (28 starts) in his NFL career and he has caught 138 passes for 1,896 yards (13.7 avg) with 14 TD grabs.  Scheffler will give Matt Stafford another solid target down the field.

29-year old Will Heller will be #3 at TE in 2010 for the Lions.  Heller played in 16 games (9 starts) for the Lions last season and he caught 29 passes for 296 yards (10.2 avg) with 3 TD grabs.  He has now played in 86 games (18 starts) in his 7 years in the NFL and he has caught 65 passes for 553 yards (8.5 avg) with 10 TD grabs.

2nd year TE Dan Gronkowski will have a hard time making the Lions’ roster this year.  He played in 2 games (0 starts) as a rookie for the Lions last season and he caught 1 pass for 4 yards.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE LIONS TEs in 2010:  B

The Lions have released 27-year old safety Daniel Bullocks.  Bullocks did not play last season due to injury and he was looking a little gimpy in training camp.  Bullocks played in 31 games for the Lions in his career and he had 169 tackles, defensed 5 passes, he had 1 sack and he forced 3 fumbles.  The Lions were smart to get rid of Bullocks before he hurt himself again.

The Lions have placed 26-year old DE Copeland Bryan on the Injured Reserve List due to a knee injury.  Bryan played in 5 games for the Lions last season and he had 5 tackles and 1 sack.  Bryan has played in 20 games in his 2 years in the NFL and he has 21 tackles, 2 passes defensed and 2 sacks.  This won’t be a big loss for the Lions who have really loaded up the roster for a nice turnaround season.

24-year old Jerome Felton is a solid all around fullback.  He played in 13 games (8 starts) for the Lions last season and he carried the ball 15 times for 46 yards (3.1 ypc).  Felton also caught 13 passes for 133 yards (10.2 avg) last season.  Felton has now played in 26 games (14 starts) in two years with the Lions and he has carried the ball 17 times for 50 yards (2.9 ypc).  He also has caught 22 passes for 186 yards (8.5 avg) in his NFL career.

26-year old converted TE Jake Nordin will likely back up Felton.  Nordin played in 4 games (1 start) for the Lions last season and he caught 2 passes for 26 yards (13.0 avg).  He played one game previous to last season and he didn’t touch the ball in it.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE LIONS FBs in 2010:  B

The Lions have signed 33-year old cornerback Dre’ Bly to a 2-year contract.  Bly played in all 16 games for the 49ers last season in which he had 29 tackles, 1 sack, 1 tackle for a loss, he forced 2 fumbles, defensed 13 passes and he had 3 interceptions.  Bly has now played in 167 games in his NFL career and he has made 484 tackles, defensed 149 passes, he has 5 sacks, 20 forced fumbles and he has 43 interceptions (5 returned for TDs).  This was a solid signing for the Lions to bring back Dre’ Bly.