Former Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr. is returning to the Detroit Lions, he announced Wednesday. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, it’s a one-year deal for Jones worth $3 million that could escalate to as much as $5 million if he hits incentives.
Jones, 33, began his career with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2012 but joined the Lions as a free agent in 2016. After five seasons with the team, Jones signed a two-year deal with the Jaguars in 2021.
In his first season in Jacksonville, Jones was the team’s leading receiver with 73 receptions for 832 yards and four touchdowns. His production declined in 2022 after the team added Christian Kirk, Zay Jones, and Evan Engram. Still, Jones finished last season with 46 receptions for 529 yards and three touchdowns, including a game-winner against the Baltimore Ravens.
With Calvin Ridley set to join the Jaguars in 2023, there wasn’t much of a chance of Jones returning to the team as he likely would’ve been battling for the fourth spot on the depth chart.
In Detroit, Jones joins an offense that has one of the NFL’s best young receivers in Amon-Ra St. Brown and a 2022 first-rounder in Jameson Williams. There’s little depth behind those too, though, and the Lions allowed former Jaguars receiver D.J. Chark to leave as a free agent.
The contract received by Jones is unlikely to be enough to land the Jaguars a compensatory draft pick.
