If you've been reading my work here or you've been following me on Twitter, you know that I have been talking about the Detroit Lions taking a receiver early in 2024 NFL Draft. I've even mocked a receiver to the Lions in the first round of my last two mock drafts because I believe it that much. 

Maybe I haven't done the best job of explaining why I have this theory. I've sort of explained it in bits and pieces since January. Today I want to break it down bit by bit and show you what's in my head. Here is why I think the Lions are destined to take a receiver high in the draft in April:

They need one

The Lions had a really good offense in 2023. One of the very best in the NFL. Amon-Ra St. Brown is an All-Pro elite receiver and he's the Lions number one guy for sure. There's a ton of questions outside of him though. The Lions do not have a number two guy. They don't have that big bodied X receiver that can bully guys and go up and get a contested catch. They simply don't have it. 

It's something that a lot of teams do have and you saw in 2023 how important it can be to have that guy because that guy beat the Lions up all year long for other teams. 

I don't think Jameson Williams is a number two

I think Jameson Williams is going to be a good receiver in this league and I'm excited about the Lions utilizing him more in 2024. With that said, I think Williams' big spot on this offense is as their WR3. Williams can be used for all kinds of things. He can go deep, he run after the catch and he can work in on trick plays. But I don't know if he can overpower a corner or go up and get it. I still have questions about his deep ball ability. He is losing the ball in the air a lot. I know everyone wants to blame Goff for that, but Williams has a tracking problem. It's the same reason they don't put him out on kick returns.

He can get better at that with time on task, but I think he's best as a guy that the Lions can utilize all over the place. He'll still start and he'll still be worth trading up for, but he won't be the number two.

Josh Reynolds has not be been brought back yet

The closest thing the Lions have had to the type of receiver they need is Reynolds, but he's not be re-signed yet. The Lions did re-sign Donovan Peoples-Jones and he has a similar skill set to Reynolds and comes at a cheaper rate. Plus Reynolds could have a really good market with teams like the Patriots or the Chargers who are now receiver needy. He has a chance to make some real money this year. 

The Lions have filled a lot of the needs we thought they'd want to draft early

There was obviously thought after the draft that the Lions would look to draft a cornerback early. Then they traded for Carlton Davis and signed Amik Robertson. Now that cornerback room looks a little crowed with those two guys and Cameron Sutton looking to take a lot of snaps. 

Then there's Steven Gilmore. He's expected to get more opportunity in 2024. The Lions brought back Khalil Dorsey for a reason as well. Criag James got kept around and Emmanuel Moseley got resigned. I think the Lions look to draft a corner, but I don't think they look to take one high since they don't really need to anymore. 

Then there's the defensive line. The Lions just signed one of the best nose tackles in the NFL in DJ Reader. They also signed Marcus Davenport who should get a lot more snaps than you think he will. The Lions will look to draft an edge, but they are in no mans land when it comes to trying to get one of the top ones. They're much better off grabbing a guy like Marshawn Kneeland, Adissa Isaac or Jonah Elliss in the second round. 

Lastly there's guard. The Lions just signed a Pro Bowl guard on Monday in Kevin Zeitler. I think they still draft one in April, but they don't need to take that guy in the first when guys like Christian Haynes, Christian Mahogany, Zak Zinter, Cooper Beebe and Zach Frazier are all slated to go in the second and beyond.

The Combine 

I talked with a lot of receivers at the NFL Combine in February and the big thing that I came away with is that the Lions had formal meetings with the guys that are expected to go high and not so much the guys that aren't. I talked to a lot of offensive linemen and none of them had met with the Lions. 

The Lions had met with some of the top cornerbacks, like Quinyon Mitchell for example, but now those guys are out of their reach and the Lions already filled spots there. 

Conclusion

All of this stuff has me boiled down to one position and that's receiver. Plus it really melds with Brad Holmes' recent drafts in which he took an offensive weapon in both. Plus it's a position that the Lions could pick at 29 or trade down into the second and still pick. They are just in a great spot to take one and I believe they will.

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