Detroit Lions Weblog

Adam Schefter Reports Lions May Draft and Trade WR Calvin Johnson

The NFL Network’s Adam Schefter has recently reported that he believes that the Lions will select WR Calvin Johnson at #2 overall if they are unable to trade down prior to making their pick.   Schefter thinks that the Lions may then spin Johnson off to a trade partner similar to the trade between the Giants and Chargers involving Phillip Rivers and Eli Manning a few years ago.

This would be an interesting, if risky, decision to embark upon by the Lions front office.   First, what if the teams who indicate that they would possibly trade for Johnson are attempting to goad the Lions into making their draft selection of Johnson with no legitimate intent of eventually making a trade?   Furthermore, what if the two teams are unable to reach terms that are of benefit to the Lions?   Don’t the Lions lose some of their leverage in moving Johnson by selecting him without the intent of keeping him within the organization in the first place?

Selecting Johnson is wise from the perspective that he appears to be the surest pick in the draft and viewed to possess off the charts ability.   That being said, haven’t we been here before?  Their is a little gremlin of doubt that keeps screaming CHARLES ROGERS! MIKE WILLIAMS! JOEY HARRINGTON!  YOU DUMMY.  If the Lions select Johnson or QB’s JaMarcus Russell or Brady Quinn on April 28th, how many wives will be already talking their husbands down from off of a ledge, at such an early juncture in the ‘07 Lions season.  How many “FIRE MILLEN” signs will be brought out of mothballs immediately after the team takes such an arduous (mis-?)step?

It is increasingly apparent that the Lions will have one less wide receiver entering the ‘07 season.   Sometime between now and June, Mike Williams will be released, or traded for a box of athletic tape and a song, if the situation between Williams and the Lions remains on it’s current course.  In that eventuality, will they have a roster spot open for Johnson if he remains with the team?  Quite obviously, yes.   I hate to consider the raw amount of cap dollars that the Lions will have consumed this season by wide receivers if they draft Johnson.  Factor in the dead cap money that is residual to the busted draft picks of Williams and Charles Rogers, and the money that they already have committed to their incumbent receivers Roy Williams, LeVale Ellis, Eddie Drummond along with recently signed receivers Mike Furrey and Shaun McDonald, it makes you head spin.

The agent for Trent Green has also stated that the Lions are no longer in the picture as a team where Green could land in ‘07.   I hate to say it, but I’m glad.   Even with his previous familiarity with Martz’s offense, Green appears washed up to me.