Detroit Lions: 3 players to target on day three of NFL Draft

Donovan Peoples-Jones, Wide Reciever, University of Michigan

The Detroit Lions should have seen what Donovan Peoples-Jones can do during his time with the University of Michigan, up the road from Detroit. He slipped out of the third round, with some analysts projecting the wide receiver to be taken on day two.

Peoples-Jones is a 6-foot-2, 212-pound wide receiver who ran a 4.48 forty-yard dash at the 2020 NFL Draft Combine. Product of Cass Tech high school here in Detroit played his college ball for the Wolverines, becoming an all-purpose threat in recent years.

As a junior at Michigan, he struggled early on while he was battling an injury. Peoples-Jones would go on to start nine out of eleven games where he had 34 receptions, accruing 429 yards, 12.9 on average, and collecting six touchdowns.

He was also a punt-return threat, with twenty-four total returns, 173 yards total, averaging 7.2 per return. He had proven to start becoming a more substantial threat for Michigan since 2018 when he broke out as a returner.

He was a big framed receiver with a big and imposing frame. He has clever footwork, which he puts to good use and is also able to track the ball well and bring in balls over his shoulder well. He can use his speed to his advantage and could be a large slot receiver.

On the flipside, Peoples-Jones can find himself in press jams throughout games. Another issue that could lead to some concern would be the inability to shake tight coverage to get extended windows.

If the Lions have the chance to select Peoples-Jones, they should select him hoping to bring him in alongside players like Danny Amendola and Marvin Jones Jr., who may be gone after the seasons’ end.