Report: 'Growing sense in league circles' Lions willing to trade up for Sammy Watkins
The Detroit Lions want to make a splash in the draft and immediately declare themselves as a legitimate Super Bowl contender, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press says.
Birkett reports there's a "growing sense in league circles" the Lions will attempt to trade up in the draft, ostensibly to select former Clemson wide receiver Sammy Watkins, a player regarded by many as the best receiver prospect since A.J. Green and Julio Jones came out in 2011.
The Lions recently had Watkins to town for a workout, but it wasn't a typical pre-draft session. Lions receivers Calvin Johnson and Golden Tate were on hand, Birkett reports, as were Lions head coach Jim Caldwell, general manager Martin Mayhew and even team vice chairman Bill Ford Jr.
The Lions own the No. 10 pick in the draft. Should they decide Watkins is their man, they will likely need to trade up to pick No. 3 or 4 at the latest. Such a swap could cost the team multiple first-round picks.
[H/T Rotoworld]