The Lions may be in the market for a young wide receiver in April's draft, and a mid-round late bloomer has been tabbed as a fit.
After a couple seasons that were mostly disappointing, the Detroit Lions have gotten what they hoped they'd get from wide receiver Jameson Williams this year. After posting a career-high 143 yards in Week 16 against the Chicago Bears, he is 110 yards shy of a 1,000-yard season. His 18.9 yards per catch is third in the league, and he has often been noticeable as a blocker.
Williams and Amon-Ra St. Brown aren't going anywhere in the Lions' wide receiving corps. Tim Patrick has been a fantastic fit as the reliable No. 3, but he's set to be a free agent and it's possible he'll be able to find a better opportunity elsewhere.
Wide receiver will not be a top need for the Lions in the 2025 draft, but we know fully well that general manager Brad Holmes won't hesitate to keep the pipeline of young talent full regardless of perception of immediate needs.
Intriguing late-bloomer WR prospect tabbed as fit for the Lions in 2025 draft
Brent Sobleski of Bleacher Report recently listed some top team fits for some top wide receiver prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft. This year's class is filled with elite wide receiver prospects as some recent years have been, but there is definitely still some talent out there.
Sobleski had the Lions among the three teams he sees as the best fits for Illinois wide receiver Pat Bryant.
"The 6'3", 200-pounder brings legitimate X-receiver size and physicality to the position, which isn't as common among Day 2 targets. He has enough burst to stack cornerbacks, with the body control to win down the field."
"Even as part of the nation's 83rd-ranked passing offense, Bryant made the most of his opportunities, with the chance to open even more eyes at this year's Senior Bowl."
Bryant is coming off a breakout season for the Fighting Illini, with 984 yards and 10 touchdowns as he averaged 18.2 yards per catch (fourth in FBS among players with at least 50 receptions). He had seven touchdowns in 2023, which now could be seen as a pre-cursor of his fuller breakthrough this year.
As Sobleski alluded to, in some deference to Illinois head coach Bret Bielema not exactly being a professor of prolific pass offenses, the pre-draft process could be a needle-mover for Bryant. He is projected as a fourth or fifth-round pick right now, but a move up to Day 2 isn't out of the question. The Lions can certainly find a lot to like here, should they be inclined to draft a wide receiver come April.
