The Detroit Lions have a knack for finding talent late in the NFL draft, and the team will be hoping they replicate the recent successes with seventh-round wide receiver Dominic Lovett.
The Georgia pass-catcher will be competing for a roster spot this summer and could find an edge in special teams play, but one insider warns that his role could depend largely on his ability to correct one of the glaring deficiencies in his game in college.
Dominic Lovett Needs to Improve His Hands
SI.com’s Emmett Matasovsky explored Lovett’s ceiling for the season, predicting that his speed could earn him an important role on special teams.
“His timed 4.4 speed in the 40-yard dash more than confirms that on-the-field speed. As a result, expect that speed to immediately translate to a gunner role, which many scouting reports also underlined for the Georgia product,” Matasovsky wrote.
Though Lovett had some success as a receiver in college, he also struggled with drops and getting open against more aggressive defenses, Matasovsky wrote.
“However, he had nine drops between his last two seasons of collegiate ball for Georgia, where the speedster was unable to match his 846-yard output at Missouri in 2022. Another struggle was press coverage, where the receiver was unable to shed corners off of him,” Matasovsky wrote.
Lovett’s chances to earn a spot on the receiver depth chart could depend largely on his production in the preseason, and Matasovsky predicted that could depend on how well he holds onto the ball.
“If a quarterback can get the ball to Lovett in space, there could be big results,” Matasovsky wrote. “However, a rash of drops could scare Jared Goff, Kyle Allen, or Hendon Hooker away from looks towards Lovett during training camp and the preseason.”
Dominic Lovett Has Front Office Support
The Lions were high enough on Lovett to use their final NFL draft pick on him, taking him with the No. 244 pick rather than risk losing him to another team in undrafted free agency. Lions general manager Brad Holmes shared praise for Lovett after the draft, hinting he could play a key role on special teams.
“It’s very important, it’s very important,” he said. “I think I may have made the joke in the past that, in the later round, (special teams coordinator Dave) Fipp could probably come in and just run the Draft.”
Holmes added that special teams play could help players like Lovett get their foot in the door, giving them opportunities to fill in if other receivers are hit with injuries.
“When the guy earns a role on teams and he’s good enough to be a part of the depth, man, he’s got a good opportunity to go to the game,” Holmes said. “If there’s another player that’s just maybe a little bit better route runner or maybe has a little bit better hands, but if he doesn’t have the attitude or the skillset to contribute on special teams, you’re talking about battling for a fifth spot, no, we’re going with the guy that can contribute on special teams. So, that’s why it’s critically important.”
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