After the Lions drafted Kenny Golladay in the third round back in 2017, veteran receivers Marvin Jones Jr. and Golden Tate took Golladay under their wings, showed him the ropes and taught him how to be a professional.
It paid off too, because Golladay was an instant contributor for the Lions as a rookie and has since developed into one of the top receivers in the game entering his fourth season in 2020.
The Lions drafted Quintez Cephus out of Wisconsin this offseason. He steps into a similar situation as Golladay did as a rookie, with veteran receivers on the roster to learn from. Cephus has Jones, Danny Amendola and Golladay. Jones was a mentor for Golladay back in 2017, and he plans to do the same with Cephus.
"That's what we do," Jones said in a Zoom call Thursday. "When you've been in the league for this long, and the type of people that we are, it's always to help. If you help somebody, that's just going to make the team better, especially when you see potential in somebody. We (saw) that with Kenny. Obviously, you know how that turned out."
Jones and Cephus got acquainted shortly after the draft when Cephus drove from Arizona to San Diego to train with Jones for a few days.
View photos from workouts during Detroit Lions Training Camp presented by Rocket Mortgage on Aug. 12, 2020.
Detroit Lions wide receiver Danny Amendola (80) during training camp practice at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive back Tracy Walker (21) during training camp practice at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive tackle Danny Shelton (71) during training camp practice at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Tom Kennedy (85) during training camp practice at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Kenny Golladay (19) during training camp practice at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Kenny Golladay (19) during training camp practice at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Quintez Cephus (87) during training camp practice at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Training camp practice at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr. (11) during training camp practice at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Danny Amendola (80) during training camp practice at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Geremy Davis (12) during training camp practice at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Training camp practice at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions guard Kenny Wiggins (79) during training camp practice at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Wes Hills (36) during training camp practice at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Wes Hills (36) during training camp practice at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) during training camp practice at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr. (11) during training camp practice at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Training camp practice at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr. (11) during training camp practice at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions safety Miles Killebrew (35) during training camp practice at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Tom Kennedy (85) during training camp practice at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive back Tracy Walker (21) during training camp practice at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive end Trey Flowers (90) during training camp practice at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Jason Cabinda (53) during training camp practice at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Christian Jones (52) during training camp practice at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions safety C.J. Moore (49) during training camp practice at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Reggie Ragland (59) during training camp practice at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr. (11) during training camp practice at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Kenny Golladay (19) during training camp practice at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive tackle Nick Williams (97) during training camp practice at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive end Trey Flowers (90) during training camp practice at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Jason Cabinda (53) during training camp practice at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Training camp practice at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive tackle Nick Williams (97) during training camp practice at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) during training camp practice at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Christian Jones (52) during training camp practice at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive back Tracy Walker (21) during training camp practice at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions safety Will Harris (25) during training camp practice at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive tackle Danny Shelton (71) during training camp practice at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Da'Shawn Hand (93) during training camp practice at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions safety Miles Killebrew (35) during training camp practice at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions safety Jayron Kearse (32) during training camp practice at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Da'Shawn Hand (93) during training camp practice at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive tackle Kevin Strong (92) during training camp practice at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive tackle Kevin Strong (92) during training camp practice at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Da'Shawn Hand (93) during training camp practice at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back D'Andre Swift (6) during training camp practice at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Jeff Okudah (1) during training camp practice at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Frank Herron (75) during training camp practice at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive tackle Kevin Strong (92) during training camp practice at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Isaac Nauta (89) during training camp practice at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Kerryon Johnson (33) during training camp practice at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Jamal Agnew (39) during training camp practice at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Ty Johnson (31) during training camp practice at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions safety Jeremiah Dinson (36) during training camp practice at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Geremy Davis (12) during training camp practice at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Jeff Okudah (1) during training camp practice at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) during training camp practice at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) during training camp practice at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Isaac Nauta (89) during training camp practice at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions safety Will Harris (25) during training camp practice at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Jeff Okudah (1) during training camp practice at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Desmond Trufant (23) during training camp practice at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) during training camp practice at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Training camp practice at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions quarterback Chase Daniel (4) during training camp practice at the Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on August 12, 2020. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
"We got some good work in," Jones said of those offseason workouts. "He definitely has the tools in terms of his strength and explosiveness. Dude can jump out the gym. So, it'll be great to see him go once we start really picking everything up."
Cephus was one of Detroit's two fifth-round picks this year after leading the Badgers in receptions (59), receiving yards (901) and receiving touchdowns (7) this past season, earning honorable mention All-Big Ten honors.
Cephus (6-1, 202) is a possession-type receiver with a basketball background. He hopes to find a role in a receiving corps that returns its top four receivers from a year ago, with three of those receivers – Golladay, Jones and Amendola – having at least 60 catches and 675 yards.
It's a good situation for Cephus in Detroit because there aren't huge expectations for him to be the guy right away. It was the same thing for Golladay back in 2017. Cephus can come in and learn from veterans and develop to a point where he can be an early contributor.
"We do that for everybody, for all rookies" Jones said of mentoring young players. "Even if they came in tomorrow, we'll treat them all the same. 'Hey, stick with us and you'll know the way.'
"Especially for people who are very motivated, we'll do that, and we see that in (Cephus). We're just going to go out here in training camp and let the young man do what he does."
