Kalif Raymond has quietly been probably the most regular and reliable Detroit Lions. Here because the very starting of the Dan Campbell period, Raymond isn’t a star and also you gained’t see loads of #11s within the crowd. But nearly each time he’s been known as upon, he’s risen to the event.
But 2025 wasn’t his greatest season, and with him now going through free company, it seems many followers are prepared to maneuver on. I’m right here to say: not so quick, my good friend.
Advertisement
Previous Lions free agent profiles: QB Kyle Allen, TE Shane Zylstra, DT DJ Reader, LB Alex Anzalone, LB Malcolm Rodriguez, DB Avonte Maddox, CB Rock Ya-Sin,
Kalif Raymond
Expectations heading into 2025
It was an odd offseason for Raymond. First, he agreed to take a small paycut while upping his guaranteed money. Then, the Lions re-signed Tim Patrick, solely to commerce him away on the finish of coaching camp. Somewhere within the center, Detroit made an aggressive play to draft receiver Isaac TeSlaa within the third spherical of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Coming off a second-team All Pro season, Raymond was actually anticipated to proceed his run as one of many league’s greatest punt returners, however with the transferring components at receiver, it wasn’t clear what his offensive function could be. His receiving manufacturing had been on the decline for three years, however with TeSlaa’s rawness, it regarded like Raymond might have an even bigger function than anticipated in 2026.
Advertisement
Actual function in 2025
Note: PFF grades replicate a minimal 20% snaps at that place.
Season stats
15 video games (3 begins): 24 catches for 289 yards, 1 TD; 2 rushes, 19 yards
32 punt returns, 241 yards (7.5 Y/R), 1 TD; 6 kick returns, 161 yards (26.8)
PFF offensive grade: 70.0 (fortieth out of 128 qualifying WRs)
PFF receiving grade: 68.5 (56th out of 125)
PFF run blocking grade: 65.3
PFF returner grade: 71.7 (twenty sixth out of 66)
Raymond, certainly, needed to play considerably early within the season, taking part in 28.0 offensive snaps per sport previous to Thanksgiving. After Thanksgiving, TeSlaa took over, and Raymond performed simply 12.5 snaps per sport within the last 4 weeks.
Advertisement
As a receiver, Raymond didn’t see a ton of targets regardless of taking part in probably the most offensive snaps since 2022. Jared Goff handed to him simply 30 instances, which was his second lowest complete as a Lion, surpassing solely final 12 months, when he performed simply 211 offensive snaps (in comparison with 358 this 12 months).
Raymond’s manufacturing in punt returns additionally noticed a fairly sharp decline. Here’s his common by 12 months:
2021: 11.2
2022: 13.2
2023: 11.4
2024: 13.8
2025: 7.5
And that’s together with his 65-yard punt return. Remove that, and his different 31 returns averaged simply 5.7 yards per return. But these explosive performs are additionally a part of the attraction of Raymond’s electrical velocity. He has a punt return landing in three of his previous 4 years and not less than one 40-yard punt return in every of his previous six seasons, courting again to his last 12 months with the Tennessee Titans.
Advertisement
Still, Raymond made some odd selections final 12 months, typically fielding punts contained in the staff’s personal 10-yard line, and some instances he risked fumbling by not calling for a good catch when he possible ought to have. Still, particular groups coordinator Dave Fipp consistently defended Raymond and his actions all year long.
“I would prefer to put the ball in our hands and be aggressive than let’s see which way the ball bounces and maybe today it’ll bounce our way and tomorrow it won’t,” Fipp mentioned relating to Raymond fielding punts contained in the 10-yard line.
Also price noting: late within the season, Raymond broke the franchise report for all-time punt return yards, surpassing Mel Gray (1,427) with 1,485 profession yards.
Outlook for 2026
Contract standing: Unrestricted free agent
Advertisement
Pros of re-signing
2025 was removed from Raymond’s best 12 months, however he nonetheless stays an explosive risk each time he touches the soccer, particularly within the punt return sport. In the previous 4 seasons, there have been 32 complete punt return touchdowns throughout the NFL. Kalif Raymond has three of them, tied with Parker Washington, Marcus Jones, and Rashid Shaheed for probably the most. That shouldn’t be taken for granted.
Additionally, the Lions at present have zero veteran depth of their huge receiver room. If Amon-Ra St. Brown or Jameson Williams get injured, they solely have Isaac TeSlaa, Dominic Lovett, Jackson Meeks, and Malik Cunningham to depend on. Raymond has expertise backing up the entire receiver positions, and has confirmed to be a productive participant when known as upon on offense.
And that velocity? Well, Raymond believes he still has it.
Advertisement
“I can probably go run a 4.3 right now,” Raymond advised Detroit Football Network in late 2025. “I can still run pretty dang fast. I can still cut pretty well.”
Cons of re-signing
Raymond simply had one among his least productive seasons each on offense and particular groups, and he’ll be 32 years outdated earlier than the season begins. At some level, the Lions want to think about making a youth motion, and 2026 could possibly be the 12 months of TeSlaa and Lovett.
Is there curiosity from each side?
Raymond actually has curiosity in coming again. His profession was on life help when he arrived in Detroit, and he’s turn out to be a key participant over the previous 5 years—together with two All Pro seasons.
Advertisement
“These guys brought me a long way, so I’m going to have trust and faith in that,” Raymond advised Detroit Football Network. “But to have been here, watching everybody grow, watching how the team, the people, the early draft picks grew. To be a part of this, to be a part of an organization with this kind of people, has been a blessing for my career.”
It’s tougher to say from the Lions’ viewpoint. Obviously, TeSlaa is in line to take the vast majority of the WR3 snaps in 2026, however, once more, there’s a fairly vital lack of confirmed depth. Some imagine Lovett, the Lions’ seventh-round choose final 12 months, is in line to take Raymond’s function each on offense and particular groups, however that each one stays hypothetical at this level. Lovett mainly has no expertise at returner in each school and the professionals, regardless of having a number of the quick and shifty expertise to thrive in that function. It’s unclear if he can crack the lineup for any vital offensive function, both.
Detroit is tight in cap house, so a man like Raymond could also be thought-about a luxurious. However, they’d undoubtedly be higher with him than with out him.
Cost?
Raymond signed a two-year, $10.5 million contract a couple of years again, and it’s in all probability honest to say his subsequent deal shall be shorter and cheaper. Spotrac puts his value at $3.5 million, OverTheCap has him between $2.3-4 million, Detroit Football Network estimates a $2.5 million deal for him.
Advertisement
Conclusion
In all honesty, I feel if the Lions can re-sign Raymond for a $2.5 million deal, they need to do it. At the very least, he’ll convey dependability to the punt return sport and a trusted participant among the many receiver depth. While I wish to see what a participant like Lovett has, this staff must in the end defend themselves from damage with confirmed expertise, and Raymond shall be a risk for a return landing each sport. To me, that’s price a comparatively low cost funding.