Just before the NFL trade deadline on Tuesday (Oct. 31), Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes surprised everyone with a sudden news conference. He excitedly announced that his team had made a trade for Cleveland Browns receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones, in exchange for a 2025 sixth-round pick.

This trade comes as a great opportunity for Peoples-Jones, who hails from Detroit, as he gets to return home and play for the Lions. The team was in need of some additional depth after their veteran receiver Marvin Jones Jr. took a step back to attend to personal family matters.

“He brings versatility. He’s a big guy, he’s got good contested catch skills, he can play outside, he can play inside,” Holmes said of the trade. “He’s a very smart player, he’s been very, very durable. He fits everything that we’re about. So, I think he’ll fit in just fine. He’s another flavor that we’re adding to our mix. So, it’s a lot of things that he can do for us.”

Peoples-Jones, a 24-year-old player, has been with the University of Michigan since 2020 when he was selected as a sixth-round draft pick. The Lions view his addition to the receiving corps as an improvement. Throughout his career, Peoples-Jones has accumulated 1,837 receiving yards and eight touchdowns.

Additionally, Peoples-Jones has showcased his versatility by returning 61 punts for 479 yards and one touchdown, as well as 18 kickoff returns for 379 yards. In the current season, he has made eight receptions for 97 yards in seven games. Last season, he achieved personal bests with 61 receptions for 839 yards and three touchdown catches.

“We feel like he fits our style and he’s smart and he can play multiple positions. He plays everything for them out there,” Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell said of the pick. “So, we just feel like he’ll be a good fit for the team and the room.”

I love a good local story, with a former University of Michigan player coming home. But, here are my two cents. The Lions possess a formidable offensive line that enables them to launch deep passes with the likes of Peoples-Jones, Jameson Williams and Amon-Ra St. Brown. That’s needed when coming up against the many tough offenses in the NFL. However, it seems that Detroit should have placed more emphasis on bolstering their defensive side, particularly the secondary. Additionally, the Lions could have benefited from acquiring another edge rusher. That would have given support for Aidan Hutchinson, who is a star but can’t do it all.

Detroit has a solid chance of making it to the top four in the NFC. But, their offense and defense rankings are not quite up to par. They come in at 10th and 12th respectively in EPA per play. In order to become true Super Bowl contenders, they’ll need to improve their offensive performance. I can’t help but wonder if a top-tier wideout like Mike Evans, Davante Adams, or Jerry Jeudy could have taken them to the next level. It’s possible that none of these players were available. But, relying on Peoples-Jones seems like a bit of a long shot.