5 Detroit Lions who need to be great in 2020

3. WR Kenny Golladay

Golladay topped 1,000 yards for the second straight season in 2019, with a career-high 1,190 yards and a league-high 11 touchdowns. He had five fewer catches (65) compared to 2018 (70), but imagine what “Babytron” might have done if Matthew Stafford had been healthy all season.

The splits were dramatic. In eight games with Stafford under center, Golladay had 35 receptions for 640 yards and seven touchdowns with four 100-yard outings. In eight games after that, with Jeff Driskel and David Blough attempting to play quarterback, he had 30 catches for 550 yards and four touchdowns. But take away a 75-yard touchdown on Blough’s first pass attempt Thanksgiving Day against the Chicago Bears, and Golladay would have topped 60 yards just twice in those last eight games.

Entering the final year of his rookie contract, Golladay is in line for a lucrative contract extension. The next step for him would make a new deal more expensive down the road for the Lions than it would be now. For his part, Golladay doesn’t appear to sweating it much.

“I wouldn’t mind being in Detroit for a while. Everything should work itself out. I’m enjoying myself,” Golladay said.

Golladay can still be called a budding star, but 2020 could be the year the world takes “budding” off that description. Contract implications aside, the Lions need him to reach that level and firmly become one of the best wide receivers in the NFL this year.