The Detroit Lions own the seventh overall selection in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft. And the position that appears to contain the most talent worthy of a top ten selection outside of quarterback is wide receiver.
And the truth is the Lions could be in play for both positions. Despite Detroit being set to acquire Jared Goff in the pending Matthew Stafford trade, the position of quarterback isn’t one the team should completely ignore in the first round of the upcoming draft.
In fact, one could argue that the Lions are in the perfect position to add a young quarterback prospect to their roster in April. Goff’s future in Detroit is unknown and how he’ll perform in the Motor City is anyone’s guess at this point.
Viewing Goff as a bridge player to groom his replacement in Detroit seems like a very viable option at this point. And there are a plethora of candidates that are expected to be available when the Lions’ number is called in the first round. Quarterback prospects like North Dakota State’s Trey Lance, Ohio State’s Justin Fields, and Alabama’s Mac Jones could all be in play for Detroit.
But the Lions appear to be positioning themselves to land one of the top wide receivers instead. That due to the fact they are set to allow the majority of their receiver corps to leave the team via free agency next week.
Recently, the Lions opted not to use the franchise tag to retain their top wide receiver, Kenny Golladay. A Pro Bowl wideout who led the NFL with 11 receiving touchdowns two years ago, Golladay is expected to cash-in big next week when the market opens as one of the league’s top free agents.
Golladay joins other Lions’ wideouts Marvin Jones Jr., Danny Amendola, Mohamed Sanu, and Jamal Agnew who are all expected to leave in free agency next week. Detroit did sign veteran wideout Tyrell Williams recently to cushion the blow, but Detroit will only retain one receiver who started for them last season. And that’s 2020 fifth-rounder, Quintez Cephus.
With a barren receiver corps, the Lions appear primed to draft one of the four college wideouts believed to be worthy of a top-ten selection in April’s draft. Those names being Alabama’s DeVonta Smith or Jaylen Waddle, LSU’s Ja’Marr Chase, and Florida’s Kyle Pitts (tight end or big wide receiver).
Of that group, the favorite to land in the Motor City might be Chase. According to NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah, landing him would be a home run for the Lions. Here’s what Jeremiah told the Detroit Free Press recently …
” … [Chase} can separate from people off the line of scrimmage, he can separate at the top of his route. He plays big to go up and get the football, and then after the catch he gives you that strength and physicality to break tackles. He’s to me the best receiver in the draft. I can’t imagine he would be there, but man, that would be a home run pick for the Lions if he was.”
Chase, Waddle, Smith, and Pitts each bring unique skillsets and abilities to the table that the receiver-needy Detriot Lions could surely benefit from. And while drafting a quarterback seventh overall might be tempting, the position of wide receiver is clearly the much bigger need. Although that could quickly change depending upon what the Lions decide to do in free agency starting next week.