for the Detroit Lions to trade up in the 2024 NFL draft, they will have to depart with draft cash. The problem, though, is the Lions don’t have a ton of draft capital like they did the prior two years.
So, to move up the board, perhaps departing with a veteran rather than precious draft capital could be an option. On April 16, AtoZ Sports’ Mike Payton proposed wide receiver Kalif Raymond as a veteran who could be disposable.
Payton designated Raymond one of three Lions players who could be dealt during the 2024 NFL draft.
“I don’t want to see Kalif Raymond go just like you don’t, but the fact of the matter is that his usage really dropped off in 2023 and the Lions could get what they used to get from Raymond out of Jameson Williams,” Payton wrote. “Couple that with the belief that the Lions will more than likely draft a receiver and guys like Donovan Peoples-Jones and Antoine Green’s roles should be bigger.
“The Lions also signed Tre’Quan Smith before free agency and he was solid veteran contributor for the Saints when Dan Campbell was there.
“Raymond is the Lions punt returner, but they do have Maurice Alexander on the roster as well and he has a decent history of being a return man in the NFL and UFL.”
Raymond recorded 35 catches for 489 receiving yards and 1 touchdown in 2023. He also returned 29 punts for 331 yards.
But Raymond saw his targets plummet from 64 in 2022 to 44 last season thanks in large part to the development of newcomers Sam LaPorta and Jahmyr Gibbs.
Why Lions WR Kalif Raymond Could be Expendable
The 29-year-old receiver didn’t play in the postseason because of a knee injury in Week 18. But he dressed for every regular season contest, and still, his statistics decreased.
Raymond also became less active in the offense as the season proceeded. Over the first nine games last year, he had at least 40 receiving yards four times. He reached that milestone just twice in the final eight bouts. During the second half, Raymond had 0 or 1 catch on four occasions.
In the second half of 2023, the roles for LaPorta and Gibbs grew. Overall, they both had more targets and receptions than Raymond last season. LaPorta had 400 more yards than the seasoned receiver too.
As Payton explained, Raymond might continue to take a back seat on offense with Jameson Williams poised to emerge. Donovan Peoples-Jones could have a bigger role in 2024 as well.
On special teams, Raymond returns punts, but former undrafted rookie Maurice Alexander might move into that role.
Alexander spent all of the 2023 season on Detroit’s practice squad. But he returned 6 kickoffs for an average of 24.3 yards in 2022.
Why the Lions Shouldn’t Trade Raymond
It’s certainly going to be difficult for Lions general manager Brad Holmes to turn away leave with Raymond for a chance to greatly improve the team’s future through the draft at edge rusher or another need.
But there are certainly plenty of reasons for the Lions to want to keep the 28-year-old.
For one, Detroit already departed with another veteran receiver Josh Reynolds this offseason. He left in free agency for the Denver Broncos.
Reynolds was second among the team’s receivers in catches and yards last year. Even with Detroit’s playmakers at tight end and running back, losing the team’s No. 3 receiver after departing with Reynolds is far from ideal.
And although Alexander is an alternative at punt returner, he doesn’t have any NFL experience in that area. Meanwhile, Raymond is one of the better punt returners in the league. He’s averaged more than 11 yards per punt return each of the last three years.
With the Lions projected to play for the Super Bowl in 2024, they would presumably choose to risk the future by dealing away picks rather than losing a versatile depth receiver such as Raymond to move up in the draft.
