Report: Lions tried to trade up to land LSU WR Ja’Marr Chase
The Detroit Lions and their plans in the 2021 NFL draft are one of the league’s biggest guessing games right now. With a little over 30 hours to go before the team makes its first-round pick, a report from ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler throws another layer of mystery onto Detroit’s intentions.
Fowler reports in his Wednesday draft rumors and speculation piece a very interesting tidbit on the Lions. Much of it is talk we’ve all seen, heard, and reported on for weeks now.
Detroit could go any number of ways. The Lions have a depleted roster and need everything. We’ve been told not to rule them completely out of the quarterback mix at No. 7, depending on how things shake out with the 49ers, but QB is not their primary focus. They like Parsons or Phillips if they go defense (or especially if they trade down and go defense). They could go with Slater as a versatile offensive line piece. And many expect them to take a wide receiver.
But then Fowler mixes in a curveball. There was talk that the Lions tried to trade up to No. 4 to land LSU wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase.
“There was chatter early in the week that the Lions tried to trade up to No. 4 to get Chase, but the Falcons’ asking price was too high,” Fowler writes.
It’s a speculative report, but it does highlight the complete uncertainty and unpredictability of what new GM Brad Holmes and the Lions are going to do this weekend.
