As recently as 2020 or 2021, the Detroit Lions might have already been thinking about being trade deadline sellers after one game. But thankfully they should be in position to buy if necessary this year, while teams like the Las Vegas Raiders are taking a position as a likely seller.
While that's not exactly a fresh notion, Michael Silver of the San Francisco Chronicle recently reported the 49ers made an effort to trade for Raiders wide receiver Jakobi Meyers. It seems San Francisco was exploring options as the Brandon Aiyuk remained uncertain, and they were rebuffed by the Raiders. Vic Tafur of The Athletic added that "talks never even reached first base."
"The Raiders, who are believed to be receptive to stockpiling picks in anticipation of positioning themselves to draft a quarterback next spring, were approached about dealing starting receiver Jakobi Meyers. The Raiders rebuffed S.F.’s overtures for the sixth-year veteran..."…
— Michael Silver (@MikeSilver) September 12, 2024
The 49ers were tied to speculation to acquire Raiders star wide receiver Davante Adams in a deal that would have sent Aiyuk to Las Vegas. Perhaps, if not likely, with cost in mind, the 49ers actually showed interest in Meyers. Even if the Raiders quickly shut them down.
Jakobi Meyers could become ideal trade target for the Lions
On some level, going back months, the Lions have had a wide receiver problem. Their bet that someone internally would step into the role vacated by Josh Reynolds backfired, leading to adding veteran receivers Tim Patrick and Allen Robinson to their practice squad. The jury is still out on if either of them will be a solution.
Donovan Peoples-Jones was brought back on the practice squad, after being one of the aforementioned guys who failed to emerge during camp and the preseason. It seems unlikely he'll suddenly become the answer.
Over the last four-plus seasons, three full seasons with the New England Patriots and now into his second season with the Raiders, Meyers has caught passes from Cam Newton, Mac Jones, Bailey Zappe, Jimmy Garoppolo, Aidan O'Connell, Brian Hoyer and Gardner Minshew. But he topped 700 yards each season from 2020-2023, with over 800 yards in each of the last three full seasons. He has also topped 70 catches in two of the last three completed seasons, with 14 touchdowns over the 2022 and 2023 campaigns.
Imagine what Meyers could do with a good quarterback, and for that matter a top-notch coordinator designing the offense he's operating in.
Meyers is in the second year of the three-year, $33 million deal he signed with the Raiders in 2023. His cap number for his year is just under $9.5 million, and his cap number next year is $14.9 million. 2026 and 2027 are void years to spread out the cap hit of his signing bonus.
Assuming the Raiders are going to acknowledge a seemingly inevitable sell-mode, most any veteran they have would presumably be on the table to be dealt if there was interest out there. Adams would be the obvious headliner, regardless of position, but Meyers would be a lower-cost pivot for any team that needs a wide receiver.
If the Lions find themselves in that spot, after other options fail, Meyers would seemingly be right in their wheelhouse to make a deal for.