Lions rumors: A familiar wide receiver in play as a trade target

As the Detroit Lions look to the trade market for a wide receiver, someone the GM is familiar with makes a lot of sense.

The 0-6 Detroit Lions are certainly more of a seller than a buyer as the NFL trade deadline approaches on Nov. 2. But they are reportedly in the market to add a wide receiver, and address a clear area of need–likely with some eye beyond this season.

The Lions certainly won’t be trading a premium draft pick for a wide receiver, so expectations should automatically and immediately be tempered there. As general manager Brad Holmes mines the trade market, he’s definitely looking for someone another team isn’t using/has fallen out of favor.

Prior to landing as the Lions general manager, Holmes was director of college scouting for the Los Angeles Rams from 2013-2020. So any available receiver with a past Rams’ tie might make sense as a trade target based on familiarity alone.

Does anyone fit that bill?

NFL rumors: A familar face for the Lions GM is surely available

In a piece suggesting players who could be traded for all 32 teams, ESPN Tennessee Titans’ reporter Turron Davenport had one for the team he covers–wide receiver Josh Reynolds.

"Reynolds signed with the Titans in hopes of getting a chance to be their No. 2 receiver. That was thrown out the window when the team acquired Julio Jones. Reynolds was hurt during camp leading to unlikely candidates Chester Rogers and Marcus Johnson emerging as key role players. Reynolds could be a good option for a team looking for a hungry veteran receiver who can contribute immediately."

As Davenport pointed to, Reynolds’ prospective role with the Titans changed big-time with the acquisition of Julio Jones. Then a foot injury during training camp has led to him falling behind Chester Rogers, Marcus Johnson and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine. He missed Week 1 with the injury, barely played in Week 2 (11 snaps) and was inactive again in Week 3.

In Week 4, with Jones and A.J. Brown both out, Reynolds played a clear season-high 78 snaps against the New York Jets and had six catches for 59 yards. Then he barely played in Week 5 (18 snaps), and was a healthy scratch in Week 6.

Reynolds was a fourth-round pick by the Rams in 2017 out of Texas A&M. He was consistently buried on the depth chart in Los Angeles, but five touchdowns in 2018 showed some promise and he had his best overall season in 2020 (52 catches for 618 yards and two touchdowns).

Reynolds signed a one-year deal with the Titans, and the way things are going in Tennessee he’s going to find an even worse market for his services next offseason. A better opportunity is clearly available in Detroit, and it would not be surprising if Holmes has someone he has inherent familiarity with on his radar to trade for.