It’s Day 2 of the 2023 NFL Draft and the Detroit Lions have three picks. Jayden Reed would be a perfect fit.
A few years ago, I would have never endorsed the Lions picking a Michigan State player. I had no trust in the hometown franchise to not ruin their career. Now that Brad Holmes seemingly has the Detroit Lions headed in the right direction (outside of a questionable Day 1), I’m all for the Lions taking a look at Jayden Reed.
Dan Campbell and Holmes seem like a match made in heaven and the players seem to love playing for the organization which hadn’t been the case in what felt like an eternity — certainly not in my lifetime.
Adding Jahmyr Gibbs and Jack Campbell on Day 1 wasn’t the dream scenario for a lot of fans, but they’re going to make the team better even if they were reaches at No. 12 and No. 18 overall, respectively. Now the Lions can focus on addressing other needs like defensive back, defensive line, tight end, and receiver.
And they have three picks to address those needs in the second round.
Huh, a second or third-round graded receiver that doesn’t need to be an immediate starter but rather add depth and a different skillset with punt-returning ability? Sound familiar?
That’s because that description fits Jayden Reed perfectly.
The Lions have picks 34, 48, and 55 in the second round and they could easily snag Reed with that final pick. He should be there in the late-second and third rounds, but since the Lions traded their No. 81 overall pick to the Cardinals, their last chance before No. 152 would be No. 55.
Make the move, Brad Holmes.
Reed would obviously be a dream scenario for a lot of Lions/MSU fans as he would slide right into that two-deep and he’d immediately help out with Jameson Williams suspended for six games. Plus, Detroit just released Quintez Cephus. The receiver room is solid as it stands, but it’s missing one more piece. Jayden Reed could be that piece.
A special teams star who has speed, elusiveness, great route-running abilities, and a knack for high-pointing the ball despite not being the biggest guy? Sounds like a perfect fit to me.
Make the hometown fans happy and get one of the better receivers in the draft.