Marvin Jones is headed for free agency, and he's hoping to join a contender. His former quarterback, Matthew Stafford, is with the Rams, so maybe they'll kick the tires on him, as a downfield complement to Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp. But I'm not sure that's his game anymore.

Earlier in his career, Jones was a downfield threat. In his first two seasons with the Lions, he averaged 16.9 and 18.0 yards per catch. But he was hurt for half of his third season, and in his last two years he hasn't been that kind of big-play target. He's averaged under 13 yards per catch in both of those years. He's gone from having one of the higher yards per catch averages over that span to one of its more modest totals. (Table shows the top 120 among 55-catch wideouts over the last five years; Jones has two of the best and two of the lesser seasons in that span.)

WIDE RECEIVER YARDS PER CATCH (55+), 2016-2020
YearPlayerTgtRecYdsAvgTD
2019Kenny Golladay, Det.11665119018.311
2020DJ Moore, Car.11866119318.14
2017Marvin Jones, Det.10761110118.19
2016DeSean Jackson, Was.10056100518.04
2019Stefon Diggs, Min.9463113017.96
2018Mike Evans, T.B.13886152417.78
2019Mike Evans, T.B.11867115717.38
2017Marquise Goodwin, S.F.1055696217.22
2018Tyreek Hill, K.C.13787147917.012
2016Julio Jones, Atl.12983140917.06
2017T.Y. Hilton, Ind.1095796617.04
2018Tyler Lockett, Sea.705796516.910
2016Marvin Jones, Det.1035593016.94
2019Michael Gallup, Dall.11366110716.86
2018T.Y. Hilton, Ind.12076127016.76
2019DeVante Parker, Mia.12872120216.79
2017Brandin Cooks, N.E.11465108216.77
2017Julio Jones, Atl.14888144416.43
2016T.Y. Hilton, Ind.15591144815.96
2020Justin Jefferson, Min.12588140015.97
2019Terry McLaurin, Was.935891915.87
2017JuJu Smith-Schuster, Pitt.795891715.87
2017Tyreek Hill, K.C.10575118315.87
2020DK Metcalf, Sea.12983130315.710
2019DK Metcalf, Sea.1005890015.57
2019Chris Godwin, T.B.12186133315.59
2019Courtland Sutton, Den.12472111215.46
2020A.J. Brown, Ten.10670107515.411
2016Tyrell Williams, S.D.11969105915.47
2020Calvin Ridley, Atl.14390137415.39
2018Kenny Golladay, Det.11970106315.25
2017Antonio Brown, Pitt.163101153315.29
2020Corey Davis, Ten.926598415.15
2018Brandin Cooks, LAR11780120415.15
2019Amari Cooper, Dall.11979118915.18
2019Randall Cobb, Dall.835582815.13
2016Brandin Cooks, N.O.11778117315.08
2017Robby Anderson, NYJ1146394114.97
2016Kelvin Benjamin, Car.1186394114.97
2018Julio Jones, Atl.170113167714.88
2019Tyreek Hill, K.C.895886014.87
2016Quincy Enunwa, NYJ1055885714.84
2016Kenny Britt, LAR11168100214.75
2019John Brown, Buff.11572106014.76
2020Tyreek Hill, K.C.13587127614.715
2016A.J. Green, Cin.1006696414.64
2017Kenny Stills, Mia.1055884714.66
2016Rishard Matthews, Ten.1086594514.59
2017A.J. Green, Cin.14375107814.48
2020Mike Evans, T.B.10970100614.413
2017DeAndre Hopkins, Hou.17496137814.413
2018DJ Moore, Car.825578814.32
2020Michael Gallup, Dall.1055984314.35
2018Chris Godwin, T.B.955984214.37
2020Brandin Cooks, Hou.11981115014.26
2018Robert Woods, LAR13086121914.26
2019Jarvis Landry, Cle.13883117414.16
2016Mike Wallace, Balt.11672101714.14
2017Mike Evans, T.B.13671100114.15
2019Julio Jones, Atl.15799139414.16
2020Chase Claypool, Pitt.1096287314.19
2019Deebo Samuel, S.F.815780214.13
2017Adam Thielen, Min.14291127614.04
2017Cooper Kupp, LAR946286914.05
2016Adam Thielen, Min.926996714.05
2019Odell Beckham, Cle.13374103514.04
2016Dontrelle Inman, S.D.975881014.04
2017Robert Woods, LAR855678114.05
2016Amari Cooper, Oak.13283115313.95
2017Alshon Jeffery, Phil.1205778913.89
2019DJ Chark, Jac.11873100813.88
2016Mike Evans, T.B.17396132113.812
2019Calvin Ridley, Atl.936386613.87
2018Corey Davis, Ten.1126589113.74
2018Allen Robinson, Chi.945575413.74
2018DeAndre Hopkins, Hou.163115157213.711
2017Keenan Allen, LAC159102139313.76
2018Odell Beckham, NYG12477105213.76
2020T.Y. Hilton, Ind.935676213.65
2020Tee Higgins, Cin.1086790813.66
2016Odell Beckham, NYG169101136713.510
2018Tyler Boyd, Cin.10876102813.57
2019DJ Moore, Car.13587117513.54
2016Marqise Lee, Jac.1056385113.53
2016Brandon LaFell, Cin.1076486213.56
2016Cameron Meredith, Chi.976688813.54
2018Amari Cooper, 2TM10775100513.47
2016Brandon Marshall, NYJ1285978813.43
2017Devin Funchess, Car.1116384013.38
2016Davante Adams, G.B.1217599713.312
2016DeVante Parker, Mia.875674413.34
2017Stefon Diggs, Min.956484913.38
2020Marquise Brown, Balt.1005876913.38
2017Doug Baldwin, Sea.1167599113.28
2018Sterling Shepard, NYG1076687213.24
2016Pierre Garcon, Was.11479104113.23
2019Emmanuel Sanders, 2TM976686913.25
2016Terrelle Pryor, Cle.14077100713.14
2016Emmanuel Sanders, Den.13779103213.15
2018Alshon Jeffery, Phil.926584313.06
2016Jordy Nelson, G.B.15297125713.014
2020Chris Godwin, T.B.846584012.97
2019Tyler Lockett, Sea.11082105712.98
2020Marvin Jones, Det.1157697812.99
2018JuJu Smith-Schuster, Pitt.166111142612.97
2020Terry McLaurin, Was.13487111812.94
2018Calvin Ridley, Atl.926482112.810
2018Mohamed Sanu, Atl.946683812.74
2020CeeDee Lamb, Dall.1117493512.65
2016Jamison Crowder, Was.996784712.67
2019Robert Woods, LAR13990113412.62
2020DeVante Parker, Mia.1036379312.64
2019Marvin Jones, Det.916277912.69
2017Marqise Lee, Jac.965670212.53
2020Adam Thielen, Min.1087492512.514
2018Davante Adams, G.B.169111138612.513
2018Antonio Brown, Pitt.168104129712.515
2020Brandon Aiyuk, S.F.966074812.55
2017Jermaine Kearse, NYJ1026581012.55
2016Willie Snead, N.O.1047289512.44

Maybe Jones can still be that big-play wideout he was a few years back. His role changed in Detroit with Kenny Golladay hurt most of last season. But he turns 31 next month, and it remains to be seen if the Rams are interested in adding a veteran wide receiver anyway. They've got last year's second-rounder Van Jefferson, and would probably like to see what he can do in an expanded role, rather than block him with a veteran. Particularly one whose best years are behind him.

I think Jones will probably have to wait for some of the bigger name free agent wideouts to sign before landing a deal, and don't necessarily see his former quarterback and the Rams being a likely fit.

--Andy Richardson