Detroit Lions Draft: Five Draft Trades to Consider
By Jeff Risdon
Trade No. 16 to the Cincinnati Bengals
The deal: Cincinnati trades No. 24 overall, No. 122 and a 2017 third-round pick for No. 16 and Gabe Wright
Cincinnati lost Marvin Jones to Detroit in free agency, and here they make a deal with the Lions to secure his replacement. This allows them to jump ahead of Houston and Minnesota in the derby of teams picking in the low 20s and all needing wide receivers. Because they already have the big target in A.J. Green, I’ll slot them the speedier, more athletic target in Josh Doctson.
The Lions part ways with Wright, deposed GM Martin Mayhew’s big mistake from the 2015 draft, and slide back several picks to acquire more resources down the road. At 24, give the Lions Jason Spriggs or Alabama DT Jarran Reed. With the extra fourth round selection, I’ll go with the concept of swinging with the high risk/reward Rutgers WR Leonte Carroo.
Next: An NFC North Swap?