Detroit Lions Offseason Prediction: Wide Receivers

Draft Prospects

Corey Davis (Western Michigan) is the top wide receiver on my draft board and if he happened to be there at pick 21, I would endorse the decision to select him. While the Lions fan base may collectively scream in unison, I would be the one screaming in joy. He may not fill a priority need, but he is a complete wide receiver. Power, acceleration, YAC skills and strong hands, Davis would change the entire dynamics of the offense.

Realistically, Davis won’t be there when the Lions select their first pick but there are several other targets the will keep an eye on throughout the draft.

If a guy like Ryan Switzer (North Carolina) is there in the fourth round, he would be a dynamic addition to Jim Bob Cooter’s offensive scheme. A slot wide receiver with elite kick return skills, he could fill the role vacated by Andre Roberts and work his way into the three-wide rotation.

If the Lions are looking for an outside vertical threat in the fourth to fifth round draft range, Stacy Coley (Miami, FL) is an underrated player, but he’s not going unnoticed.

Red is person whose opinion I trust. As a former wide receiver at the University of Pittsburgh, he understands what traits translate at the next level. His player comparison to Stefon Diggs is appealing when you think about pairing that type of skill set with Tate. When you have two players that can be successful both inside and out you can confuse defenses with your formations.

If they want a Marvin Jones clone, then Josh Reynolds (Texas A&M) is their guy. He is still working on improving his consistency, but he has flashed translatable traits and would be a quality addition to the Lions receiver group.

NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein agrees with my Marvin Jones comparison and had this to say about Reynolds in his Draft Profile:

"Long and tall, Reynolds is a dangerous vertical threat thanks to his ball tracking and ball skills over eye-popping deep speed. Reynolds is a menace in the red-zone and can mismatch smaller cornerbacks in the air. He lacks play strength which could cause problems for him early in his career against physical corners, but his toughness, work ethic and football intelligence should overcome those concerns and help him carve out a career as a second or third receiver in the league."

Jehu Chesson (Michigan) had a phenomenal 2015 season, but an injury in the Bowl Game to his lower leg kept him out until just before the 2016 season. He never looked right this past season and is safe to wonder if he was fully recovered from his injury. While he looks like a project, he could immediately contribute on special teams.

Here’s a look at his speed:

Right now most draft experts have Chesson rated as a late round pick, but if the Lions are willing to draft a long snapper in the sixth round then why not take a shot at a return man with wide receiver upside.