The NFL Draft has come and gone, and the Detroit Lions made several key moves to strengthen both their starting lineup and overall depth. By the end of Saturday, Detroit had selected four offensive players (two wide receivers and two offensive guards) and three on defense (two defensive linemen and a safety).

Head coach Dan Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes had emphasized before the draft that they wanted to inject young talent into the wide receiver group, a goal they successfully achieved.

Detroit’s third-round selection, Isaac TeSlaa out of Arkansas, is projected to be developed into one of the team’s future starting receivers. But the Lions didn’t stop adding to the receiver room once the draft ended. After the event, they brought in two undrafted wideouts: Jackson Meeks from Syracuse and Jakobie Keeney-James from UMass.

Although both undrafted players face an uphill battle to make the final roster, one may earn the coaching staff’s admiration quickly because of his mindset.

In Dane Brugler’s The Beast draft guide for The Athletic, Meeks’s college coach at Syracuse, Fran Brown, said, “He’s a dawg.” Brown, who took over at Syracuse in 2024, had previously coached at Georgia, where Meeks had initially committed, giving them a long-standing connection.

Meeks carries a mindset that mirrors Lions star receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown’s. St. Brown used his tenacity and drive to become a top NFL receiver after being taken in the fourth round. Meeks faces a much harder path to playing time, but bringing a gritty mentality is a great way to start.

In 2024, Meeks hauled in 77 receptions on 115 targets, totaling 1,020 yards and seven touchdowns for Syracuse. He also finished second in the FBS in contested catches with 21, though he lacks elite speed.

If Meeks does get snaps, his ideal role would be as a big-bodied target in the red zone. Still, it’s his fierce attitude that fits perfectly with what Campbell and the Lions coaching staff look for.