Bengals lead class; Cowboys stand out after George Pickens trade

The football world will soon find out whether the Lions’ offensive success in 2024 had more to do with the pen or the personnel. While former offensive coordinator Ben Johnson deserves credit for his innovative schemes, which helped Detroit lead the league in scoring and rank second in total offense, it’s much easier to dial up winners when you have a route runner (WR Amon-Ra St. Brown), a speedster (WR Jameson Williams) and a chain-mover (TE Sam LaPorta) at your disposal. In Johnson’s final season in Detroit, that trio accounted for 26 of the team’s 39 TD receptions, while St. Brown and Williams each posted more than 1,000 receiving yards. With Johnson now in Chicago, new offensive coordinator John Morton will have a chance to showcase his play-designing skills in 2025. Given St. Brown’s dazzling route-running ability, Williams’ big-play potential and LaPorta’s reliable hands, don’t be surprised if the Lions’ dynamic aerial attack does not skip a beat with a new man calling the plays in Motown.