Veteran Lions Starter Named a Potential Trade Candidate

Bleacher Report's Kristopher Knox recently named Patrick as a potential trade candidate for the Lions.

We've know since the draft that Patrick's future replacement was in the building for the Lions. They traded three third-round picks to move up and get Isaac TeSlaa in round three.

What we didn't know was just how soon that future might come.

There have been plenty of positive reports on TeSlaa throughout training camp. He showed why that has been the case in the Hall of Fame game as he led the game in receiving yards with two catches for 46 yards in what was an overall very bad day for the Lions' offense.

If he continues to perform, he could quickly overtake Patrick for his WR3 spot.

It's a role where Patrick performed well last season. Despite facing some of the toughest target competition in the league, Patrick made 33 catches for 394 yards and three touchdowns and turned 20 of his catches into first downs.

That could garner some interest from other teams in need of a wide receiver.

The only way moving on from Patrick would really make sense for the Lions would be if they found a trade partner. If they cut him, all $2.5 million of his contract becomes dead money for this season.

If he's traded then only $1.245 million would be dead cap space.

There is still plenty of preseason left for Patrick to prove he should hold onto his WR3 spot, but for right now it seems like he could find himself on the wrong side of the roster bubble ahead of the regular season.