The Detroit Lions may choose to acquire an experienced player in exchange for a wide receiver in the next draft.
When the Detroit Lions approach into the 2024 draft, wide receiver is somewhere along the spectrum of needs. Depending on who you question and a few factors in the current wide receiver room, it varies on where it sits on that spectrum.
For the defending NFC runners-up, a rookie wide receiver brought in with significant draft capital (let’s say one of the Lions’ three current selections in the top-75 overall) should be able to contribute right away. It is no longer on the same curve for a wide receiver to have a significant impact. The idea of a “third-year wide receiver breakout candidate” is hardly new to fantasy football managers; in fact, it still holds true sometimes. Jameson Williams of the Lions is a shining model for 2024
What if, however, the Lions pursued a wide receiver, a player with greater track record? Naturally, as the draft draws closer, the ship has all but sailed on any significant free agent addition at wide receiver. We are therefore open to trade options to bring in a renowned veteran.
It feels extremely unlikely that the Lions will make a deal for a seasoned wide receiver before, during, or immediately after the draft, and maybe “incredibly low” isn’t a strong enough (or harsh enough?) word.
However, since the NFL operates on a “never say never” basis, the Lions may be able to make a deal for any one of these five experienced wide receivers before, during, or shortly after the draft.
The Detroit Lions might trade for any of these five experienced wide receivers rather than selecting one early. San Francisco 49ers’ Brandon Aiyuk
The notion that the current NFC Super Bowl representative would deal Aiyuk to the greatest opponent to dethrone them is absurd. Though Aiyuk has unfollowed the 49ers on social media, is looking for a new contract that fits his value, and most recently promised “fireworks” on Instagram on the day of the first round of the draft, trade speculations about him continue.
The 49ers have insisted that they will not trade for Aiyuk and will instead obtain him a long-term contract, according to general manager John Lynch’s own remarks or reports that they are most likely the source of.
It’s also reasonable to believe that the Lions would be quite reluctant to forfeit whatever it would take to get Aiyuk and then offer him the kind of deal he deserves. This offseason, Amon-Ra St. Brown is expected to sign a deal that will make him one of the highest-paid wide receivers in the NFL. It would be difficult, if not impossible, to fund two large wide receiver contracts.
