With the 2026 NFL Draft officially in the books, the Detroit Lions continue their offseason work to try and get the club back to the standard that they set during their recent two-year reign atop the NFC North Division.
While they finished the recent 2025 NFL season with a winning record, they ultimately finished on the outside looking in at the postseason, but will be looking to remedy that in the upcoming 2026 season.
Lions general manager Brad Holmes, always on the lookout for additional talent to bring to the roster, apparently has his eyes on another potential weapon for quarterback Jared Goff to target next season.
The Detroit Lions Worked Out Wide Receiver James Proche On Tuesday, Per Multiple Reports
According to multiple reports, the Lions worked out wide receiver James Proche, a former sixth-round pick by the Baltimore Ravens in the 2020 NFL Draft.
According to his scouting report:
“(Proche has) average size, quickness and speed, but extraordinary ball skills that allow for viral-caliber catches throughout his game tape. Teams may see the measurables and move him inside, but he lacks slot quickness and route savvy underneath. Once the ball is launched, however, Proche is an alpha with ball tracking, body control and razor-sharp focus, which makes him the favorite in contested-catch battles downfield. Polishing the routes and determining the fit that best activates his ultra-competitive nature and freakish instincts/talent when the ball is in the air could be the difference between becoming a WR3 or a WR5.”
A native of Dallas, Proche played collegiately for the SMU Mustangs before being selected in the sixth round (201st overall) of the 2020 NFL Draft by the Baltimore Ravens.
While at SMU, Proche earned first-team All-American Athletic Conference (AAC) honors in his redshirt junior year after leading the team with 93 receptions for 1,199 yards and 12 touchdowns.
During his senior year, he was named first-team All-AAC and a second-team All-American by the Football Writers Association of America.
James Proche Began His NFL Career With The Baltimore Ravens
Proche made his NFL debut in September of 2020, but would later be placed on the club’s reserve/COVID-19 list during the season. Eventually, he finished as part of the PFWA All-Rookie Team.
During his second NFL season with the Ravens, Proche hauled in a total of 16 receptions for 202 yards in 14 games played.
However, he would find himself waived by the Ravens in 2023, and soon joined the Cleveland Browns, appearing in 10 games during the 2023 NFL season. After being re-signed by the Browns to a one-year contract, Proche later made his way to the Tennessee Titans, signing a one-year contract and rotating between the practice squad and their active roster.
So far in his NFL career, he’s accumulated 364 receiving yards on 34 receptions, along with 651 return yards.
Would he be a good fit as a depth wideout for Jared Goff to target this season with the Lions?
Detroit Lions Eyeing Another Weapon For Jared Goff