It’s no secret that the Detroit Lions would love to land one of the top pass-catchers in the 2021 NFL draft, but a run on them could leave them empty-handed at the No. 7 overall pick.
Maybe that’s why the Lions are rumored to have tried trading up to the No. 4 overall pick, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler:
“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 said.
This makes sense from both sides, as the Lions would love to add this year’s most complete wide receiver prospect after the position was gutted in free agency. Yes, they added some new veterans of their own, but nobody with the kind of skill set and potential Chase would bring to Detroit.
For the Falcons, they’re more likely to hold a bidding war among teams targeting a top quarterback prospect at No. 4 overall, if they end up trading down. Teams are always willing to pay more to go up for a quarterback, and the Falcons are certainly aware of that.
Even at No. 7, it’s possible the Lions could miss out on Chase, Alabama’s Jaylen Waddle and Florida tight end Kyle Pitts. They could take Alabama’s DeVonta Smith there, or opt for Oregon offensive tackle Penei Sewell.
If not, they could trade down themselves, especially if there’s still a top quarterback prospect on the board.
