The Detroit Lions have fully bought into their youth movement on the outside after veteran wide receiver Tim Patrick was traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Wednesday morning in exchange for a 2026 sixth-round draft pick.
With Patrick shipped out of town for future draft capital, the expectation is that rookie WR Isaac Teslaa will slide into the starting lineup following his standout showing throughout Detroit's preseason schedule. This has raised questions about whether the Lions have learned anything from the lack of depth that plagued them at this position during the 2024 campaign.
Time will tell if the depth at the position will be an issue this coming season. A question that can now be asked, however, is whether a sixth-round pick was the best return Detroit could have hoped for. Following comments from Brad Holmes on Thursday morning, there could be more questions on that subject than there were at the time the trade was initially reported.
Brad Holmes on the Tim Patrick trade pic.twitter.com/JDyWg320p1
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) August 28, 2025
Lions' Return in Tim Patrick Trade Keeps Getting More Disappointing
A sixth-round selection in the 2026 draft was what the Lions were able to pry away from the Jaguars in exchange for Patrick. That was enough for some media covering the franchise to wonder aloud whether a pick that late in an upcoming draft would benefit Detroit any more down the road than keeping Patrick around for this season as a veteran backup who is familiar with the system.
This is where Holmes' comments raise more eyebrows. After thanking Patrick for his contributions to the franchise and approach to his craft, the GM of the Lions noted that there were "multiple teams" interested in acquiring the veteran wideout. If fans are expected to believe that is the truth, the question of whether this move was worth it is only amplified.
Landing a future sixth-round pick for a player that multiple teams were pursuing is a pretty underwhelming haul if this is truly how things played out. Even with the understanding that the practice of stacking draft picks in the NFL is looked upon favorably, it is hard to accept this being the best return Holmes could have received if he had the leverage of multiple franchises bidding against one another for the same veteran.
The Lions' depth at the wide receiver position is now at best a question and at worst a glaring issue. Behind Teslaa are Kalif Raymond, a nine-year veteran who had 22 targets over 12 games last season, and rookie seventh-round pick Dominic Lovett. That isn't exactly a bench that opposing secondaries will be fearful of.
Signing Tom Kennedy to the practice squad is a nice addition after spending the summer in camp with Detroit, but he is only going to make so much of a difference in a role outside of the active roster.
Fans won't have to wait long to see just how this all plays out for the Lions, as Week 1 is right around the corner. It is clear, though, that this coaching staff and front office have faith in Teslaa's ability to get the job done alongside St. Brown and Williams.