Detroit Lions: Full Position Breakdown and Depth-Chart Analysis at Wide Receiver

Former Detroit Lions general manager Matt Millen spent years trying to fill out a receiving depth chart. Current general manager Martin Mayhew has taken up the task and has already done a better job while not wasting resources like his old boss.

But has Mayhew done a good enough job? His top two receivers form arguably the best pass-catching duo in the league (although Denver and Green Bay might argue that point), but it's the rest of the roster that holds the mystery.

No Doubt About It

Jeff Haynes/Associated Press

For those who have been too involved in A Song of Fire and Ice to pay any attention to football, the two mentioned above are Calvin Johnson and Golden Tate. And unless Kellen Moore switches positions, Johnson and Tate will continue to be the unquestioned starters.

Johnson, however, didn't enjoy his best professional season in 2014. Injuries limited him to 13 games, and he wasn't particularly healthy or effective in two of those games, resulting in his lowest output since 2009 (71 receptions for 1,077 yards).

Yet, he was still Megatron-enough to finish as Pro Football Focus' seventh-highest-graded receiver because he makes the incredible look routine. Johnson is still a top threat in this league and rocks the crown for this depth chart. CSNChicago.com's Vincent Goodwill provided some on-field insight:

"

That was a great pass in the way of somebody throwing something up to Calvin Johnson in the end zone. Margin for error is high

— Vincent Goodwill (@vgoodwill) June 10, 2015"

Meanwhile, Tate proved to be an extremely welcome addition. He carried the passing offense during Johnson's absence, notching career highs in receptions (99) and yards (1,331). 

And his run-after-the-catch talents were on full display. He finished the season tied with Steve Smith for the most missed tackles with 20 on the season.

These two will set the tone for a passing game looking to climb back into the top 10 if not the top five in 2015. Now they just need a little bit of help.

Paul Sancya/Associated Press

The Third In The 313

When the battle for your third receiving spot is the most crucial of your summer, you've done something right. It means the rest of your team is properly stocked, and you're in the business of finding the last few pieces. 

The Lions find themselves in that spot.

Jeremy Ross was last year's third wide receiver and return man. He finished the year with 24 catches for 314 yards and one touchdown. That isn't enough to solidify the position because the competition is starting to heat up, thanks to a new addition, a hopefully ascending youngster and a finally healthy prospect.

While handicapping anything in mid-June is a tough proposition, Lance Moore is a serious contender. The veteran has been practicing well, according to Paula Pasche of the Oakland Press, understands the offense and gives Detroit a reliable target who knows the nuances of getting open.

However, Corey Fuller is entering his third year with the team, and the coaching staff would love to see him develope enough to be the stretch wide receiver. He's the only one with top-level speed, which is probably why Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press believes he'll win the job (h/t BoneheadPicks):

"

Corey Fuller is expected to win the #Lions No. 3 receiver job per Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.

— Boneheadpicks (@Boneheadpicks) June 2, 2015"

Kyle Meinke of MLive Media Group gave that prediction credence based on what he saw at minicamp:

"

With Calvin Johnson out, top receivers were Golden Tate, Corey Fuller and Jeremy Ross

— Kyle Meinke (@kmeinke) June 4, 2015"

Fuller will need to come a long way from his 14-reception performance in 2014 to justify that confidence, especially with a hard-charging Ryan Broyles on his tail. The NCAA's former career leader in receptions has finally been healthy for an entire offseason and has "caught almost everything thrown his way," per Meinke. But the above tweet seems to hint that the coaching staff still doesn't place him above Fuller or Ross.

That means the return job could really be key for whichever guys are left fighting for the last roster spot or two. Rookie T.J. Jones has barely been mentioned during OTAs and minicamp, but he'll still get a shot at the last receiving spot since he was picked by this regime. 

Since Jones has to be considered, the return job could be key, which makes one of Meinke's minicamp observations all the more interesting:

"

Golden Tate, Ameer Abdullah, Jeremy Ross, Lance Moore and Ryan Broyles were the punt returners again. There doesn't seem to be any discernible hierarchy between those five at this point (though Ross and Abdullah have to be considered the leaders for the job).

"

If Ross wins that job, the final three will likely be him, Moore and Fuller based on experience and potential. That would leave Jones and Broyles hoping the Lions carry six receivers, with no clear indication of which one has the inside track.

It's still unclear if Mayhew has accomplished his mission. What we do know is that there is serious competition at the position, and most of the players vying for the roles have talent. That's more than Millen could ever say.

All advanced stats, grades and positional rankings are courtesy of Pro Football Focus. Contract information courtesy of Spotrac.

Brandon Alisoglu is a Detroit Lions Featured Columnist who has written about the Lions on multiple sites. He also co-hosts a Lions-centric podcast, Lions Central Radio. Yell at him on Twitter about how wrong he is @BrandonAlisoglu.