The Detroit Lions were one of the teams to pull off a trade ahead of the 2023 NFL Trade Deadline. They acquired wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones from the Cleveland Browns in exchange for a 2024 sixth-round pick.
It isn’t a move that will garner a ton of attention in the football world, as other headline-grabbing deals were made. But, it is one that the Lions are very happy with, as they are taking a shot on a hometown kid who has struggled in 2023 after an excellent 2022 season.
Peoples-Jones had a career year in 2022, catching 61 passes for 839 yards and three touchdowns. This season his production has taken a major step back as he has caught only eight passes for 97 scoreless yards in seven games.
Despite the lack of production, Peoples-Jones is someone that should fit in with the Lions. They are lacking a big-bodied receiver that can consistently win in contested catch situations down the field. Detroit has a burner in Jameson Williams, but his slighter frame limits what he can do at times.
The 6’2” Michigan product will now help complement Williams as a downfield threat. Also, as head coach Dan Campbell noted, Peoples-Jones will provide the team with a strong insurance policy. That was as big of a reason as any for the team acquiring him.
“I always feel like you’re one injury away,” Campbell said. “That was a position we felt like if we could find a steady, reliable guy that fits us that could play outside that was something that we wanted to look and see if we could acquire.
“DPJ (People-Jones) out there we felt like really fit us. He fits our style. He’s smart and he can play multiple positions. He plays everything for them out there. We just feel like he’ll be a good fit.”
After being a clear-cut starter in Cleveland last season, Peoples-Jones saw his role cut back drastically in 2023. The addition of Elijah Moore pushed him down the pecking order and the inconsistency in the passing game took away any chance he had to produce.
While the Lions depth chart is full of options that will be ahead of Peoples-Jones in the pecking order, he does provide the team with insurance in case anyone else goes down. His skill set is also one Detroit was lacking, so it would not be shocking if they find ways to get him involved on a weekly basis.