The Detroit Lions continue to linger as a potential suitor in the Deebo Samuel sweepstakes, and it’s obvious how such a move would be transformative for their franchise.
Samuel is a superstar wide receiver, something the Lions have lacked ever since Calvin Johnson retired in 2015. It stands to reason that the Lions would be interested, but would they need another piece of the puzzle to get the most out of Samuel?
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Some have questioned whether quarterback Jared Goff can be the Lions quarterback of the future. With that in mind, an interesting potential blockbuster turnaround has been suggested to help the Detroit offense. Former NFL writer Andrew Perloff, now of the “Maggie and Perloff Show!,” tweeted a potentially dynamic move for Detroit this offseason.
Perloff suggested the Lions draft Malik Willis with the second-overall pick, then ship off picks 32, 34 and 66 to the San Francisco 49ers to land Samuel and pair him with Willis for a potentially elite offensive duo.
Detroit Lions: Draft Malik Willis at No. 2, trade No. 32 and No. 34 and No. 66 to 49ers for Deebo Samuel? What do you think? I’ll hang up and listen.
“Detroit Lions: Draft Malik Willis at No. 2, trade No. 32 and No. 34 and No. 66 to 49ers for Deebo Samuel? What do you think? I’ll hang up and listen,” Perloff tweeted.
Lions Defense Would Be Major Loser Within This Proposal
Perloff’s proposal would likely upgrade the Lions’ offense, but Detroit’s defense could wind up being a major loser. The Lions are expected to look for players in the draft to bolster a group that gave up more points than all but one team in 2021. The Lions have multiple needs on defense: defensive line, linebacker and secondary. Shipping away three picks for Samuel would likely hurt their chances to find what they need in the draft.
From Detroit’s perspective, trading pick 32 and a third-round pick in 2022 plus a middle-round pick in 2023 could help facilitate the move. It is unlikely Detroit would consider trading the second-overall selection in 2022 for Samuel, nor would the Lions be likely to give up either 2023 first-round pick given where they are in their rebuild. Asset-wise, this type of move could prove to be a mistake, no matter how good it may look on paper to some fans.
Samuel’s Career Stats & Highlights
There’s no doubting what Samuel brings from a talent perspective on the field. Since coming into the NFL in 2019 as a second-round pick out of South Carolina, Samuel has been changing minds on how the wideout position is played given his ability to be a versatile weapon. Samuel was a first-team All-Pro in 2021 as well as a Pro Bowler. Statistically, he is a force, with 2,598 receiving yards and 10 receiving touchdowns to go with 550 rushing yards and 11 rushing touchdowns.
Here’s a glimpse at some of Samuel’s big-play ability:
It’s safe to say that adding Samuel to the mix would be a game-changing move for a Lions team that needs a dramatic shakeup. With Samuel, adding Willis in the draft could give the Lions one of the hottest offenses in the league. Whether general manager Brad Holmes would be willing to commit to moves this big at this point in the Lions’ rebuild remains to be seen.
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Analyst Offers Electric Deebo Samuel Pairing Idea for Lions