5 wide receivers Detroit Lions could trade for to address wide receiver concern

Heading toward the second preseason game this weekend, wide receiver depth is clearly a concern for the Detroit Lions. In truth, it could have been seen as one going back months. It's only Wednesday this week, and head coach Dan Campbell has spoken about it twice.

Before Monday night's practice, here's what Campbell said about the wide receiver battle.

"It’s still the same as where it’s at. We’re waiting for any one of those guys to step forward,” Campbell expressed. “DPJ (Peoples-Jones), I felt like, has been, since the game, much better. He’s playing faster and I notice it, we all notice it, so that’s encouraging. But, Fountain and Tre’Quan (Smith) and Kaden Davis, somebody, we’re dying for somebody to step up and say, ‘Hey, man, I’m the guy. I’m the guy you can depend on. I’ll be the same, consistent player every day, find a way to make the plays that come my way.’”

Before Wednesday morning's practice, Campbell was asked about the WR3 spot in the scope of the Lions' offense during an appearance on 97.1 The Ticket.

'Honestly, what it is, is we just need a reliable staple, you know? Like, that's what Reynolds was for us. Josh Reynolds was the reliable guy we could count on he was gonna be where he's supposed to be when he was supposed to be there to play any spot, and he'd make a critical catch for you" "You need a steady reliable, when the ball needs to find you because coverage dictates it, and that's the guy we need to find. Who is that guy? That is important now. That being said, we don't want to just keep a guy because he's receiver 3,4,5..."

That's a clear warning to Donovan Peoples-Jones, Daurice Fountain, Tre'Quan Smith, etc. in the battle for spots filling out the Lions' wide receiver depth chart. It's also conveys a strong sentiment of "if these guys don't step up, we'll find someone who can."

Campbell's mention of Josh Reynolds says a lot here.

Reynolds left a sour taste in the mouths of Lions' fans with two drops in the NFC Championship Game loss to the 49ers. But over two-plus seasons he was a reliable option Jared Goff could trust. To this point the Lions have been resigned to filling that void internally, but Campbell's recent tone could reflect a looming change in that plan if it becomes necessary.

There's an argument that a change in that plan is necessary right now. Before too long, but perhaps not until after Saturday's preseason game sheds more light, trading for someone could be in play.

On that note, here are five wide receivers the Lions could trade for to curb Campbell's concern.

5 wide receivers the Detroit Lions could trade for to curb WR concern

5. David Bell, Cleveland Browns

Bell suffered a quad injury in the Browns' preseason opener, which head coach Kevin Stefanski said will sideline him for a week or two. That will not help in his quest to secure a roster spot, as he looks like a cut candidate.

Over his two seasons since Cleveland took him 99th overall in 2022, Bell has played 31 games. But he has only played 733 offensive snaps, including just 217 last year in 15 games. He simply hasn't had a lot of opportunity, and 52 of his snaps last season came in the regular season finale (4 catches for 68 yards, two touchdowns).

Bell was a reception machine at Purdue, with 232 grabs for 2,946 yards and 21 touchdowns over three seasons (29 games).

4. Terrace Marshall, Carolina Panthers

Marshall has gotten no traction over three seasons with the Panthers, due in large part to a bad situation (five different starting quarterbacks, three different head coaches and three different offensive coordinators). There have been no indications he has a bad attitude, and the latent tools he has (6-foot-2, 210 pounds, 4.38 40) are surely still in him at 24 years old.

The Panthers traded for Diontae Johnson, then they drafted Xavier Legette to further bolster their wide receiver group. The regime that took Marshall in the second round of the 2021 draft is gone, which fuels the idea of him as a trade candidate after he was given permission to seek a trade last year.

Cost is a natural consideration for any receiver the Lions might trade for. A deal for Marshall could add the condition he makes the roster, along with only requiring a late Day 3 draft pick.

3. Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Buffalo Bills

There has been some buzz mentioning Valdes-Scantling as a cut candidate for the Bills, and he didn't help himself with a drop in their preseason opener. Offensive coordinator Joe Brady has tried to curb some of that trend by saying the veteran receiver is comfortable in the offense and has Josh Allen's trust.

Cutting Valdes-Scantling would not be smart business by the Bills. Drops have been an issue for him during his career, but a 17.0 yards per catch average for his career is notable on its own. Last season was the first year of his career where he didn't average more than 15 yards per catch or top 400 yards. That makes him a tradeable asset if he has no place on their team.

The Lions should be (are?)looking at receivers who could be traded or cut around the league. "MVS" is right there in that conversation.

2. Noah Brown, Houston Texans

In deep set of wide receivers for the Texans, Robert Woods may stand out as a fit for the Lions due to his ties to Brad Holmes and Jared Goff from when all three were with the Los Angeles Rams. But let's get a little more aggressive here.

Brown is supposedly nearing a return to practice after suffering a shoulder injury late last season and requiring offseason surgery. So that concern should be gone soon.

Last season, over 10 games, Brown set career-highs in receiving yards (567) and yards per catch (17.2). Alex Ballentine of Bleacher Report highlighted what he brings to the table.

"Brown excels with the ball in his hands and had the fourth-highest YAC score from ESPN Analytics' receiver tracking stats. He was also one of the more efficient receivers in the league, averaging 10.3 yards per target and was fourth in yards per reception."

There's long been some element of "what could he do in a bigger role?" with Brown. The Lions should be eyeing his health status, and aim higher than Woods if they want to try and get a Texans' wide receiver.

1. Darius Slayton, New York Giants

The effort to speak Slayton-to-the-Lions into existence continues. He is down the Giants' depth chart just enough to hint at the idea he could be available in a trade, and they adjusted the final year of his contract during OTAs so he would show up.

The Giants have mostly had an inept offense and lackluster quarterbacking over Slayton's five seasons thus far. But he has topped 45 catches and 720 yards with over 15 yards per catch four times, and last year he had four of the team's 15 touchdown receptions. In a better offense with a capable quarterback, the potential feels obvious.

Slayton should be atop any list of potential wide receiver trade targets for the Lions until further notice. If a call hasn't already been made, Brad Holmes needs to get that done just to see what it would take.