Lions might have developed a hybrid offensive Star as a 2025 rookie puts on pounds
Miami Dolphins vs Detroit Lions DETROIT,MICHIGAN-AUGUST 16: Detroit Lions wide receiver Jackson Meeks 83 gestures at the line of scrimage during the first half of an NFL, American Football Herren, USA pre season football game between the Miami Dolphins and the Detroit Lions in Detroit, Michigan USA, on Saturday, August 16, 2025 Detroit Michigan United States PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxFRA Copyright: xAmyxLemusx originalFilename:lemus-miamidol250816_npdbV.jpg
Miami Dolphins vs Detroit Lions DETROIT,MICHIGAN-AUGUST 16: Detroit Lions wide receiver Jackson Meeks 83 gestures at the line of scrimage during the first half of an NFL, American Football Herren, USA pre season football game between the Miami Dolphins and the Detroit Lions in Detroit, Michigan USA, on Saturday, August 16, 2025 Detroit Michigan United States PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxFRA Copyright: xAmyxLemusx originalFilename:lemus-miamidol250816_npdbV.jpg
When injuries ravaged the Lions' tight end room with Sam LaPorta and Brock Wright last season, they turned to an unlikely fix: rookie wide receiver Jackson Meeks. Now, months later, he's still lining up there during Detroit's mandatory minicamp with a question looming.
While the Lions are experimenting a bit, the real question is: Can Meeks actually block?
According to NFL insider Mike Payton, the concern isn't whether he can catch the football or run routes; it's whether he can line up and block as Jahmyr Gibbs expects.
“The question is whether he can line up attached to the formation, kick out an edge defender, seal a linebacker, or hold his block long enough for Jahmyr Gibbs to get around the corner,” wrote Payton on A to Z Sports on July 14.
ALLEN PARK, MI - AUGUST 21: Detroit Lions Wide Receiver Jackson Meeks 83 during the joint practice between Houston Texans and Detroit Lions on August 21, 2025 at Detroit Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI Photo by Allan Dranberg/Icon Sportswire NFL, American Football Herren, USA AUG 21 Houston Texans - Detroit Lions Joint Training Camp EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon20250821021
ALLEN PARK, MI - AUGUST 21: Detroit Lions Wide Receiver Jackson Meeks 83 during the joint practice between Houston Texans and Detroit Lions on August 21, 2025 at Detroit Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI Photo by Allan Dranberg/Icon Sportswire NFL, American Football Herren, USA AUG 21 Houston Texans - Detroit Lions Joint Training Camp EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon20250821021
Meeks has already shown enough promise to become a two-way player for the Lions. Last season, he earned a respectable 60.1 run-blocking grade per Pro Football Focus.
In the preseason, the rating improved. He posted an 85.2 run block grade in the Hall of Fame game and a 91.3 run blocking grade on 36 snaps against Atlanta.
According to Mike Payton, Meeks was a decent blocker, and that's exactly what the Lions like to see.
“He was a decent blocker in college, and that’s exactly the kind of profile the Lions love,” wrote Payton.
This season, he has already added 20 pounds and now weighs around 235 pounds as he looks to make the final roster. But where does he fit into the roster?
Can Jackson Meeks find his place in the Detroit Lions roster?
Even though he answered the calls for the Lions last season, he has yet to earn a spot on the 53-man roster.
In the same A to Z sports report as above, Mike Payton predicts that Meeks will find his place on the team at tight end.
“The Lions are likely to carry four tight ends and four receivers, with Meeks landing somewhere in the middle of that," wrote Payton. "He would be that fourth tight end but also function as a fifth receiver, giving Detroit the flexibility to push him inside or outside depending on the matchup.”
While nothing is certain yet, training camp will determine who makes the roster and who doesn't. That said, what are your thoughts on Jackson Meeks?
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Written by
Suryakant Das
Edited by
Aadesh Dhote