The Detroit Lions desperately needed help for what might be the NFL’s worst receiving corps, and they did not want to wait for the waiver to find it.
The Lions acquired Denver Broncos receiver Trinity Benson via trade late Monday night. In exchange for Benson, the Lions gave up fifth- and seventh-round draft picks in 2022 and acquired a sixth-round pick in 2023.
Benson was on the roster bubble in Denver, where the Broncos have one of the deepest receiver rooms in the NFL. He led the Broncos with eight catches for 80 yards and two touchdowns this preseason and was vying with Diontae Spener to be the team’s No. 5 receiver.
In Detroit, Benson joins a receiving corps that has been underwhelming this summer.
No. 1 receiver Tyrell Williams is dealing with a groin injury and has practiced sparingly in training camp. Presumptive No. 2 receiver Breshad Perriman was cut Monday after a disappointing five months in Detroit. Kalif Raymond and Amon-Ra St. Brown should join Williams in the starting lineup this fall, and Quintez Cephus appears to have won a job as a backup.
[ What we learned about Detroit Lions’ Dan Campbell, Brad Holmes from roster cuts ]
Benson, who runs a sub-4.4-second 40-yard dash, signed with the Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 2019 after playing collegiately at East Central University.
He spent the past two seasons on the Broncos’ practice squad, where he played both slot and outside receiver and doubled as a return man.
Lions coach Dan Campbell was non-committal Monday on whether the team would keep four or five receivers, but Benson’s addition could spell the end of Tom Kennedy’s hopes of making the 53-man rsoter.
“We’ll find out (Tuesday) exactly what’s going to happen with it,” Campbell said. “I would say that there’s a chance we keep five, but there again … we’re looking at the 31 other teams, too, as this unfolds over the next couple of days.”
The Lions appear to have paid a steep price to acquire Benson in dealing two draft picks, but the team is expected to gain at least three compensatory draft choices for the loss of free agents Kenny Golladay, Jarrad Davis and Marvin Jones.
NFL.com projects those choices to be in the third, fifth and sixth rounds next spring.
The Lions have an extra first-round pick next year from the Matthew Stafford trade, and gave up a 2022 fourth-round pick to move up in the draft and take linebacker Derrick Barnes.
Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.