Lions Rookie Wideouts Potentially Turning $26 Million WR Into Trade Candidate
Bleacher Report's Alex Kay proposed the Detroit Lions trade wide receiver Tim Patrick to the Buffalo Bills before the 2025 NFL regular season.
After contributing quality production and nine starts, Tim Patrick returned to the Detroit Lions this offseason. But even with a $2.5 million salary, he might not be a roster lock.
This week, Bleacher Report’s Alex Kay argued the Lions could trade Patrick to create more roster space for their rookie receivers. Kay proposed Detroit send Patrick to the Buffalo Bills for a 2026 seventh-round pick.
“While the 31-year-old has had injury issues of his own, he’s coming off a promising season with the Lions,” wrote Kay.
“Patrick likely wouldn’t cost the cash-strapped Bills much, as Detroit has a logjam in the receiving corps and might be willing to move on from Patrick for cheap.”
Patrick posted 33 catches, 394 receiving yards and three touchdowns last season for Detroit. It was his first NFL regular season since 2021. Patrick sat out 2022 because of a torn ACL. He then missed 2023 because of a torn Achilles tendon.
Patrick was third for the Lions in receiving yards last season. But Detroit added receivers Isaac TeSlaa and Dominic Lovett in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Undrafted rookie wideout Jackson Meeks has also been pushing for a roster spot with a solid preseason for the Lions.
Patrick has earned a little more than $26 million over his eight-year NFL career.
What Tim Patrick Brought to 2024 Lions
The Lions needed additional receiver depth at this time last year. The team targeted Patrick, who spent 2024 training camp with Lions head coach Dan Campbell’s mentor, Sean Payton, and the Denver Broncos.
Patrick began his Detroit tenure on the practice squad. But he played in every game for the team after Week 1. Patrick also started six of the team’s final seven contests.
The veteran experienced his best stretch of games from the middle of November to mid-December last year. In five contests, Patrick had 19 receptions on 26 targets and posted 202 receiving yards. He averaged 10.6 yards per reception and scored three touchdowns.
With the Broncos from 2020-21, Patrick eclipsed the 700-yard mark each season. He’s not a candidate to do that anymore, especially on an offense with Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams.
But the Lions clearly valued what Patrick brought last year based on the $2.5 million salary he received in free agency.
Patrick a Potential Lions Trade Candidate?
Despite his productive 2024, Patrick could find himself on the trade block over the next couple days. The Lions, along with every other team, have to cut their rosters from 90 to 53 players by 4 pm ET on August 26.
Kay didn’t dive into the specifics, but the Lions do have a logjam at receiver. That’s in large part because of the three rookies performing well.
In Week 3 of the NFL preseason, TeSlaa hauled in an impressive 33-yard touchdown catch along the sidelines. The third-round rookie is a roster lock.
During Week 2, Meeks had an 11-yard touchdown and 27-yard reception. He led the team with 93 receiving yards.
If the Lions want to retain their three leading rookie receivers, Patrick could be the odd man out.
In addition to St. Brown and Williams, Kalif Raymond is returning for the Lions. Raymond doesn’t catch a lot of passes, but he’s one of the best punt returners in the NFL.
Even without Patrick, the Lions would need to dedicate six roster spots to receivers to keep St. Brown, Williams and Raymond along with the three rookies.
Cutting Patrick would not result in any cap relief for the Lions. So, the team is unlikely to want to do that.
But if they could find a trade partner, then the Lions could get something in return for Patrick while finding spots for TeSlaa, Lovett and Meeks.
