The Detroit Lions are rebuilding their receiver room now that Kenny Golladay is set to become a free agent when the new league year begins March 17. NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah said in a national Zoom call Tuesday that Detroit has options at the position.
One option is turning to next month's NFL Draft, where the Lions have the No. 7 overall pick.
LSU's Ja'Marr Chase and the Alabama's duo of Jaylen Waddle and DeVonta Smith are all in the conversation as top 10 picks.
"All three of those guys would be good options for Detroit," Jeremiah said. "I don't think they can make a wrong pick there."
In Jeremiah's most recent edition of his Top 50 players available in the draft, Chase is his No. 2 overall prospect behind only Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence.
"I think a lot of times when you're watching receivers, you see guys that can win with separation and quickness and you see guys that can win with physicality and kind of contested catches," Jeremiah said. "And when you watch him at LSU in 2019, you see examples of both, where he can separate from people off the line of scrimmage, he can separate at the top of his route. He plays big to go up and get the football and then after the catch he gives you that strength and physicality to break tackles.
"He's to me the best receiver in the draft. I can't imagine he would be there, but man, that would be a home run pick for the Lions if he was."
View photos of new Lions wide receiver Tyrell Williams.
FILE - In this Sunday, Oct. 21, 2018, file photo, Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Tyrell Williams (16) celebrates as he scores a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans at Wembley stadium in London. On Tuesday, April 16, 2019, the Chargers announced they will wear their historic powder-blue jerseys as their primary home uniforms in the upcoming season. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham, File)
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Tyrell Williams runs with the ball for a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Tyrell Williams is mobbed by fans after scoring a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
San Diego Chargers wide receiver Tyrell Williams celebrates a run against the Miami Dolphins during the second half of an NFL football game in San Diego, Sunday, Nov. 13, 2016. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Tyrell Williams (16) signals to the official as he checks his position on the line during an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 9, 2019, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Peter Joneleit)
San Diego Chargers wide receiver Tyrell Williams, scores past Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Brent Grimes during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)
San Diego Chargers wide receiver Tyrell Williams (16) makes a catch in front of Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Frank Zombo (51) during the second half of an NFL football game in Kansas City, Mo., Sunday, Sept. 11, 2016. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)
San Diego Chargers wide receiver Tyrell Williams (16) scores a touchdown after a 1-yard pass as Cleveland Browns inside linebacker Demario Davis (56) defends in the second half of an NFL football game, Saturday, Dec. 24, 2016, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Aaron Josefczyk)
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Tyrell Williams (16) and Houston Texans cornerback Gareon Conley (22) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 27, 2019, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Tyrell Williams, right, catches a pass as Cleveland Browns strong safety Briean Boddy-Calhoun looks on during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 3, 2017, in Carson, Calif. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Tyrell Williams, above, leaps over Philadelphia Eagles outside linebacker Mychal Kendricks, right, during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Carson, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Tyrell Williams (16) jumps up to catch the ball while San Francisco 49ers defensive back Jimmie Ward (20) defends during an NFL football game on Sunday, Sep. 30, 2018 in Carson, Calif. (Jacob Gonzalez via AP)
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Tyrell Williams (16) scores a touchdown against the Houston Texans during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 27, 2019, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Tyrell Williams reacts after scoring a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Carson, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Tyrell Williams (16) catches a touchdown pass in front of Dallas Cowboys' Xavier Woods and Anthony Brown, left rear, in the second half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Nov. 23, 2017, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)
FILE - In this Dec. 22, 2019, file photo, Oakland Raiders wide receiver Tyrell Williams runs against the Los Angeles Chargers during the first half of an NFL football game in Carson, Calif. Las Vegas Raiders' Williams has a torn labrum in his shoulder that he will try to play through this season. A person with knowledge of the injury confirmed that Williams got hurt in practice last week. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team has not made any announcement. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo, File)
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Tyrell Williams (16) plays during the first half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets Sunday, Dec. 24, 2017, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Tyrell Williams (16) makes a catch over Kansas City Chiefs defensive back Ron Parker (38) during the first half of an NFL football game in Kansas City, Mo., Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Tyrell Williams runs against the Los Angeles Chargers during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 22, 2019, in Carson, Calif. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Tyrell Williams, left, is tackled by San Francisco 49ers cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 30, 2018, in Carson, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Sanchez)
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Tyrell Williams in action during the first half of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos Sunday, Nov. 18, 2018, in Carson, Calif. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Tyrell Williams (16) during the second half of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans Sunday, Oct. 27, 2019, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Tyrell Williams (16) is pulled down by Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Steven Nelson (20) during the second half of an NFL football game in Kansas City, Mo., Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Tyrell Williams (16) makes a catch as Kansas City Chiefs defensive back Eric Berry (29) closes in, during the first half of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs in Kansas City, Mo., Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Tyrell Williams (16) runs against Detroit Lions cornerback Rashaan Melvin (29) during an NFL football game in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 3, 2019. (AP Photo/John Hefti)
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Tyrell Williams (16) scores a touchdown as Kansas City Chiefs free safety Juan Thornhill (22) looks on during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 15, 2019, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/D. Ross Cameron)
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Tyrell Williams (16) carries the ball during the second half of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs in Kansas City, Mo., Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Tyrell Williams (16) celebrates his touchdown against the Indianapolis Colts during the first half of an NFL football game in Indianapolis, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2019. (AP Photo/Doug McSchooler)
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Tyrell Williams (16) catches a pass against Los Angeles Chargers cornerback Casey Hayward (26) during the first half of an NFL football game in Oakland, Calif., Thursday, Nov. 7, 2019. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Tyrell Williams signs autographs before an NFL football game between the Raiders and the Tennessee Titans in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019. (AP Photo/D. Ross Cameron)
Chase opted out of the 2020 season, but in 2019, he was LSU's top receiver in their run to a national championship, catching 84 passes for 1,780 yards and 20 touchdowns.
Smith and Waddle were an explosive combo for Alabama this past season, helping the Tide to a national title. Smith won the Heisman Trophy, and while Waddle missed time with a foot injury, he's one of the most explosive players in this draft at the position.
"Waddle gives you a little bit more juice, but DeVonta Smith plays plenty fast as well," Jeremiah said. "DeVonta Smith is a pristine route runner. He's obviously, everybody knows, is real thin, but man he's really long-armed, he can go up and get it as well. I just thought what you get after the catch with some of the shiftiness and then just the home run speed from Waddle is why I ended up with Waddle over Smith."
Jeremiah lists Waddle as his No. 6 overall prospect, and Smith comes in at No. 8.
The Lions signed veteran wide receiver Tyrell Williams on Tuesday, but could lose Golladay, Marvin Jones Jr., Danny Amendola, Mohamed Sanu and Jamal Agnew to free agency.
"There's some good free agents out there as well," Jeremiah said of the receiver position. "I'm curious, sometimes it's not just in a vacuum. We'll see what they do with that money they could have allocated there (to a Golladay franchise tag) and if they're aggressive in other areas where they can get better.
"They'll have, all the way into the fourth and fifth round there's going to be good wide receivers again."
Don't forget that Lions general manager Brad Holmes has been through a rebuild at receiver before in 2017 with the Los Angeles Rams. That experience could go a long way to helping him do the same in Detroit this offseason.
Other highlights from Jeremiah's call include the following:
1. Holmes hasn't ruled out the possibility of drafting a quarterback at No. 7. When asked about North Dakota State quarterback Trey Lance, who is scheduled for a pro day workout Friday, Jeremiah said Lance reminds him of Steve McNair.
2. Jeremiah said Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons, who some draft analysts have linked to Detroit at No. 7 is a linebacker "who can do everything."
3. Detroit will also look to boost the interior of their defensive line this offseason, but the draft might not be a great place to do that, at least early on. Jeremiah said there's a chance not a single defensive tackle is selected in the first round this year. He said it might be the least talented defensive tackle group in the draft in a decade.
4. The Lions need to retool at linebacker, and Jeremiah said there's a bunch of off-the-ball linebacker options in this class who he thinks can come in and contribute right away as rookies.
5. Who might ultimately be the best player in this year's draft class according to Jeremiah? Florida TE/WR Kyle Pitts, who comes in at No. 3 in Jeremiah's Top 50. Jeremiah compared Pitts to Kansas City tight end Travis Kelce, but with a bigger catch radius. Jeremiah called Pitts a "rare dude."
6. Jeremiah is really high on Northwestern offensive lineman Rashawn Slater, who had a good pro day Tuesday. He says Slater is the draft's best tackle, but is such a rare athlete that he can play all five positions upfront along the offensive line.
