December 30, 2012; San Diego, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey (85) celebrates after a touchdown reception during the second quarter against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reported today that Heyward-Bey will be in town for a visit with the Lions on Wednesday.

He’s a bigger name than his production warrants because of his status as a former top-ten pick but that doesn’t mean he isn’t a good fit for the Lions. If the money is right, he’s a near perfect fit.

The Lions don’t need Heyward-Bey to come in and be the primary receiving weapon the Raiders expected when they took him with the seventh overall pick in 2009. Calvin Johnson has that role locked down in Detroit. DHB’s job would be to compliment Megatron as the team’s second deep threat on the outside. Titus Young was supposed to be that guy but his epic flameout leaves the Lions with another need at wide receiver.

One fan sure to be excited by this report is SideLion Report’s Braden Shackelford who took a look at Heyward-Bey last week before any official links between the sides were reported. You can read Braden’s take here.

Nov 11, 2012; Baltimore, MD, USA; Oakland Raiders wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey (85) scores a touchdown as Baltimore Ravens defensive back James Ihedigbo (32) defends in the second quarter at M

Pair the injuries with the release of Titus Young and the lack of production from tight ends Brandon Pettigrew and Tony Scheffler and the Lions suddenly have an issue at the play-making positions on offense. Unless the team wants to spend one or multiple drafts picks, potentially high draft picks if they are looking for a starting caliber receiver, the Lions need to find a down the field threat to take advantage of the pressure Calvin Johnson faces on a weekly bases. Darrius Heyward-Bey could be the deep threat answer for the Lions with a career average of 14.8 yards per reception, a stat that should improve playing along side Calvin Johnson and a proven quarterback in Matthew Stafford.

At 6’2, 210 lbs DHB has the size the Lions will be looking for on the outside and the frame that should help him stay avoid injury. DHB’s size is great, but what would make him the perfect compliment to Calvin Johnson is his elite athleticism. Heyward-Bey was clocked as fast as 4.27 in the forty, he has a 38.5 inch vertical and has decent strength with 16 reps at the NFL combine. The knock on DHB has been his inconsistent hands, but he has steadily improved over the past two seasons in that area and should only get better. His route running has also been in question, but the nice thing about DHB is that he continues to improve in each of his weakest areas.

At 26, Heyward-Bey has plenty of football left in the tank and should only get better. Remember, he hasn’t had much to work with in his time at Oakland with Carson Palmer and Jason Campbell throwing him the football during his career. A vertical offense like the Lions run may be just what Heyward-Bey needs after being labeled a “bust” early in his career.

The video below contains all DHB’s measurables from the combine, the pros and cons of his game, and displays some of his best plays during his career at Oakland. I feel that DHB has a lot to offer the Lions big play offense at the right price. On a side note, check out his double move he puts on the Seahawks’ corner at 1:43 in the video: