5 wide receivers Detroit Lions could trade for to address wide receiver concern

2. Noah Brown, Houston Texans

In deep set of wide receivers for the Texans, Robert Woods may stand out as a fit for the Lions due to his ties to Brad Holmes and Jared Goff from when all three were with the Los Angeles Rams. But let's get a little more aggressive here.

Brown is supposedly nearing a return to practice after suffering a shoulder injury late last season and requiring offseason surgery. So that concern should be gone soon.

Last season, over 10 games, Brown set career-highs in receiving yards (567) and yards per catch (17.2). Alex Ballentine of Bleacher Report highlighted what he brings to the table.

"Brown excels with the ball in his hands and had the fourth-highest YAC score from ESPN Analytics' receiver tracking stats. He was also one of the more efficient receivers in the league, averaging 10.3 yards per target and was fourth in yards per reception."

There's long been some element of "what could he do in a bigger role?" with Brown. The Lions should be eyeing his health status, and aim higher than Woods if they want to try and get a Texans' wide receiver.

1. Darius Slayton, New York Giants

The effort to speak Slayton-to-the-Lions into existence continues. He is down the Giants' depth chart just enough to hint at the idea he could be available in a trade, and they adjusted the final year of his contract during OTAs so he would show up.

The Giants have mostly had an inept offense and lackluster quarterbacking over Slayton's five seasons thus far. But he has topped 45 catches and 720 yards with over 15 yards per catch four times, and last year he had four of the team's 15 touchdown receptions. In a better offense with a capable quarterback, the potential feels obvious.

Slayton should be atop any list of potential wide receiver trade targets for the Lions until further notice. If a call hasn't already been made, Brad Holmes needs to get that done just to see what it would take.