The Lions’ offense won’t be derailed by gambling suspensions — they’ve got the draft picks to survive it

The Detroit Lions will still be favored to win the NFC North, even without Quintez Cephus or C.J. Moore or, for six games, Jameson Williams.

Those are three of the four Detroit players to face discipline from the league related to sports betting. Cephus and Moore wagered on football, were levied indefinite suspensions of at least a year and were subsequently released. Williams and Stanley Berryhill were found to have bet on non-football sports from team facilities and were served with six-game bans. They remain part of the Lions’ roster.

This discipline will cost the team some useful depth, but it’s not going to sink Detroit’s season. The Lions were 9-8 last year with Cephus, Williams and Berryhill combining for exactly three catches. This team will persist.

But it does need targets to whom a revived Jared Goff can throw. As it stands, Detroits top wideouts are Amon-Ra St. Brown, 33-year-old Marvin Jones, Josh Reynolds, Kalif Raymond and Tom Kennedy — at least until Williams comes back from suspension. Tight end is even more desolate: Brock Wright and Shane Zylstra (276 receiving yards between them in 2022) occupy the top two spots on that depth chart.

While it’s too late to sort through the top options in free agency — hey, old friend Kenny Golladay is available! — the timing isn’t all bad. The NFL Draft starts in six days. The Lions have two first round picks thanks to the lingering effects of their Matthew Stafford trade. The first, from the Rams at No. 6, is likely too high to pick from this year’s good-not-great crop of receivers or a deep class of tight ends. DraftKings’ +2000 odds on wideout and +3500 on tight end as the team’s first selection reflects that.

The next pick, however, is No. 18. It would be just about perfect for either.

There’s a reasonable chance Detroit has the opportunity to take the first pass catcher off the board with its backup first rounder. A St. Brown-Jaxon Smith-Njigba-Jones triumvirate would carry the Lions through Williams’ suspension and then comprise one of the league’s best young receiving corps upon his return. Zay Flowers and Quentin Johnson would each be versatile pieces who’d help keep Goff’s mid-career resurgence flowing. Tight ends like Dalton Kincaid, Michael Mayer or Luke Musgrave could be proper replacements and potential upgrades for T.J. Hockenson.

But that’s not all! Hockenson’s departure brought back a second round pick last fall, leaving Detroit four selections in the top 55. And after revamping the secondary through free agency, there’s room for head coach Dan Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes to patch their biggest holes on defense while adding multiple playmakers to an offense in sudden need of depth.

Adding receiving talent was already a piece of the Lions’ wish list. Friday’s suspensions moved it to the forefront. Losing Cephus and Moore altogether and Williams and Berryhill for six games each isn’t a good thing, but it’s a survivable error that puts the team’s needs in clearer focus. The Lions were well positioned to absorb any kind of hit to their roster. These suspensions weren’t expected, but Detroit was prepared anyway.

Now the Lions just need to nail this draft to keep chugging toward their first NFC North title in 32 years.

Gannett may earn revenue from sports betting operators for audience referrals to betting services. Sports betting operators have no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. Terms apply, see operator site for Terms and Conditions. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, help is available. Call the National Council on Problem Gambling 24/7 at 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ, OH), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN). Must be 21 or older to gamble. Sports betting and gambling are not legal in all locations. Be sure to comply with laws applicable where you reside.