Detroit Lions interested in trading up for Mike Evans?
Mike Evans speaks at the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Pat Lovell-USA TODAY Sports
The Detroit Lions signed former Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Golden Tate to a significant deal this offseason in order to give Calvin Johnson and Matthew Stafford a high-end No. 2 wide receiver, and Tate should flourish in a pass-happy offense that will give him the targets to match his underrated skill-set. Tate is the perfect complement to Johnson, because he has great hands, can win in the slot or on the outside, gets plenty of yards after the catch with his agility, makes up for his height by winning at the catch point, has plenty of toughness, runs clean routes, and he can win at any level of the field.
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Even though the Lions signed Tate this offseason, they are still interested in adding another talented wide receiver to the best wide receiver in the game and an excellent WR2. Not only have they reportedly contemplated trading up for the top wide receiver in the class, Clemson’s Sammy Watkins, but they are also interested in trading up for the wideout widely regarded as the second-best.
ESPN’s John Clayton reports that the Lions have shown interest in trading up for Texas A&M Aggies star receiver Mike Evans, who has an imposing combination of size and speed, and he’s much better at catching passes than every receiver in this class with a tantalizing size-speed combo (Kelvin Benjamin, Martavis Bryant, and Cody Latimer come to mind). Evans’s size is a major asset, he has great long speed, and he makes up for a lack of short-area quickness with elite body control and an underrated ability to make some plays in the middle of the field.
While Evans would be a great fit for the Lions, it would be a mistake for them to trade up for a receiver. Not only do they have two very talented ones in Johnson and Tate, but they could find an equally good prospect at #10 in Odell Beckham Jr., who is more well-rounded than Evans. They could also take dynamic TE Eric Ebron, who is an excellent joker despite his raw hands and inconsistent blocking. Due to the deep draft and the Lions need for quality depth at WR instead of star talent at the top, the Lions should stay put and 10 and draft OBJ, a cornerback, or Ebron.