The last two years haven’t been very successful for the Detroit Lions, who keep looking for ways to improve their offense by adding skill players for their quarterback to utilize. Sammy Watkins coming out of Clemson and maybe the best wide receiver in this draft class is someone they might be willing to trade up for.

The Lions have the 10th overall pick, but there are at least three teams picking before them that might go for Watkins. The Rams have the number two pick, but Watkins isn’t going that soon. Both the Bills (9th) and the Raiders (5th) have shown interest in the 6’1 receiver, who finished his college career on a high with the Orange Bowl MVP award and finishing as a first-team All-American in all of his three seasons with the Tigers.

The Lions actually hosted Watkins for a pre-draft visit, giving an indication of how serious the Lions might be about him, as he met up with Calvin Johnson and Golden Tate. Few doubt that if Matthew Stafford gets Watkins as another weapon in an offense that suddenly looks very loaded (thinking of Reggie Bush and Bell in the backfield), with what might possibly be the best receiving trio in the NFL, potentially.

Getting Watkins isn’t going to be easy, and will cost them a combination of draft picks and players in order to get a pick that assures them he won’t be “stolen” from them beforehand. The saying is that if you want a player badly, you better move up for him instead of simply waiting around and crossing your fingers no one takes him before you do. With Watkins, a definite top 15 pick who excelled in the combine, waiting doesn’t seem like a smart move.

Watkins played three years for Clemson and had a huge Junior year with 101 receptions for 1464 yards and 12 touchdowns. He is also a phenomenal sprinter, winning the AA state title in the 200 meters, with a time of 21.11, which is still his personal best, and he finished second in the 100 meters, with a time of 10.45 as a senior in high school.

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