The Detroit Lions have been busy this offseason, and one of the most active areas has been in the secondary. The Lions haven’t made any big splashes to add to the group, most notably signing Christian Izien, Chuck Clark, and Roger McCreary in free agency. But Detroit still has ongoing concerns when it comes to the health of Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch, as well as the progress of third-year cornerback Terrion Arnold.
It’s a situation that could use some outside help, and the Lions may have received that from the Green Bay Packers.
The Packers made a notable move on Friday, trading wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for a 2026 fifth-round pick and a 2027 sixth-round pick, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. While the trade frees up a logjam at the position entering next season, there are still plenty of questions in Green Bay, which could be the advantage the Lions need.
Packers' WR Risks Could Help Lions Overcome Secondary Concerns
The Packers still have three capable receivers after trading Wicks, with Christian Watson, Jayden Reed, and Matthew Golden ticketed for the top spots on the depth chart. But while each of these players has been productive at times, they also have red flags that can’t be ignored.
Watson had a productive year after returning from a torn ACL midway through the 2025 campaign and caught 35 passes for 611 yards and six touchdowns. The Packers’ most effective deep threat, Watson’s play has made a contract extension a reality. But that carries risk not only from a new deal that should exceed Spotrac’s $15.6 million annual market value, but for a player who has missed 20 games due to injury since entering the NFL in 2022.
Reed is a productive player in this group, but he fell off in his third season in Green Bay. After suffering a foot injury during the preseason and a broken collarbone in Week 2, Reed was limited to just seven games. While he’ll be a beneficiary of the move, he’s also entering the final year of his contract, which could also entice the Packers to let him leave at the end of next season, should younger, cheaper options establish themselves in 2026.
This brings us to Golden, who had a meager rookie season with 29 receptions for 361 scoreless yards. While he scored a touchdown in a playoff loss to the Chicago Bears, he had plenty of opportunity to have a bigger year, finishing second among receivers with 310 passing snaps last season.
This trio is backed up by second-year receiver Savion Williams and free-agent addition Skyy Moore. But neither of those receivers has done anything to suggest they could step up due to poor performance or injury, which should play right into the Lions' hands.
The Lions are hoping to get Joseph back after he was limited to six games due to a degenerative knee condition. But with the focus being pain management over a full recovery, there is some risk that he could either miss games or not be the All-Pro player he was earlier in his career.
Branch is expected to miss a sizable portion of next season as he returns from a torn Achilles tendon, and Izien and Clark are better suited for reserve roles as opposed to full-time starting jobs.
The problems get even deeper at cornerback. DJ Reed returns after his first season in Detroit was marred by a hamstring injury. Arnold didn’t take the sophomore leap that many expected, and added legal concerns, in which he maintains full innocence, which could put the Lions in a full-blown crisis before Arnold gets a chance to redeem himself on the field. While McCreary is a hedge, he’s more suited for a slot role, and Ennis Rakestraw Jr. is a shaky bet after his first two seasons were defined by injuries.
Put it all together, and the Lions could use something to go in their favor. And with the Packers also losing Romeo Doubs in free agency, it’s a weakened receiver group that should play into Detroit’s hands when they meet for their two matchups next season.