The Detroit Lions have one University of Michigan player in Aidan Hutchinson, who they drafted to the team in 2022, but one is never enough when it comes to snagging players from this legacy program. Now, the Detroit Lions are expressing interest in a Michigan wide receiver, and the move would give the team’s wide receiver room more depth and add a new target for quarterback Jared Goff.
The Detroit Lions are gearing up for the 2026 NFL draft, which takes place from April 23 to 25 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. While the team is largely expected to draft a tackle early in the draft, the Lions have nine picks, and one could go to a budding University of Michigan wideout.
University of Michigan Wide Receiver Could Be Drafted By the Detroit Lions as Jared Goff Support
The Detroit Lions brought Michigan wide receiver Donaven McCulley in for a top-30 visit this week, according to a report from football analyst Pete Nakos. The report adds that McCulley visited the Lions before completing a workout with the New Orleans Saints.
While the team hasn’t released specific details about the visit, it’s certainly intriguing to think of the team bringing on another Michigan player.
McCulley started his career with the Indiana Hoosiers before going to the Michigan Wolverines. For the 2025-26 season, the player clocked 39 catches for 588 yards and three touchdowns, according to ESPN research. While he’s not perfect, McCulley wins in size at 6’4″ and could turn into a solid, consistent wide receiver in the NFL with the proper development.
McCulley is expected to be a late day three candidate or priority undrafted free agent. If the Detroit Lions could get him either way, it would be a steal.
The Case to Draft Michigan Wide Receiver Donaven McCulley
The Detroit Lions have two of the best wide receivers in the league with Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams. If those guys take McCulley under their wings, the Michigan standout could rise to being a WR1 at some point in his NFL career.
McCulley started in all 13 games for the Wolverines in 2025. Before then, he was with the Indiana Hoosiers for four seasons, so he’s a veteran in the college sense of the term.
McCully’s official NFL profile sings his praises, calling him a “big, tough wideout” but adding that he has just “modest production and average tools.”
“McCulley has adequate foot quickness and athleticism,” it adds. On the downside, the player “will need to prove he can beat tight man pressure because he’s not a natural separator and rarely runs by cornerbacks on vertical routes. He works back on throws when needed and uses his frame/hand extension to help him protect the catch-point.” On the up side, “is performance in the catch phase is a plus,” but the warn that “getting there won’t be easy for him against NFL cornerbacks.”
So, whenever you draft someone late in the game, you’re taking a chance. It just seems like giving McCully that chance would make for great football, especially given that he’s a Michigan product.
Lions Show Interest in Michigan Player to Pair With Jared Goff