The latest receiver trade of the 2023 season has emerged. Donovan Peoples-Jones is on his way from the Browns to the Lions, as first reported by Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com. 
The move is now official, and NFL Network’s Pelissero notes Cleveland will receive a 2025 sixth-round pick in exchange. Peoples-Jones, a Detroit native, will now take part in a homecoming to close out the final season of his rookie contract. He will look to add at least a depth presence in the Lions’ receiving corps.
The Michigan alum took on a starting role in his second season, and he has remained a constant presence in the Browns’ passing game since. Peoples-Jones saw his receiving total grow from 304 yards as a rookie to 597 the following year to 839 in 2022. That improvement led to the expectation for further growth, but that has not been the case this season.
Amari Cooper has, as expected, served as the Browns’ top receiver since his arrival last year. 2023 trade acquisition Elijah Moore has also worked in a starting capacity, which has played a role in Peoples-Jones’ share in the offense taking a step back. The latter has made only eight catches this season, though he has also provided special teams value by continuing to operate as Cleveland’s punt returner.
The Lions have Amon-Ra St. Brown at the top of their WR depth chart, with the likes of Jameson Williams, Josh Reynolds and Kalif Raymond serving in complementary roles. Detroit recently lost a veteran contributor when Marvin Jones stepped away from football to attend to a family matter. Peoples-Jones, who owns a career yards per catch average of 15.7, will aim to give his new team another deep threat in the passing game.
Succeeding in that capacity could boost his free agent value ahead of the spring. Peoples-Jones’ stock has no doubt taken a hit compared to where it stood before the campaign, but a strong showing in Detroit would help him recoup value on a deal keeping him in the Motor City or one sending him elsewhere. It will be interesting to see how he fits into Detroit’s offense and special teams while the 6-2 Lions aim for a postseason run.
Kind of odd all around to me
Why?
From Detroit POV, with Marvin Jones Jr retiring mid-season you are one injury away from having a 7th round Rookie as your #3 or 4 receiver. Amon-Ra & Reynolds are your starters, Jamo has hands of stone and Raymond is more undersized gadget & return game weapon than slot receiver. WR depth was a weakness BEFORE Jones retired. This addresses that.
Good pickup for a Detroit team that doesn’t have a glaring hole (though a stud to pair opposite Hutch and an extra CB wouldn’t hurt to add)
I don’t at all question Detroit addressing its WR corps, but I do question the player acquisition. Mainly, I’m unsure I believe in DPJ’s ability to establish himself for a new team mid-season. I feel the Lions would have been better off trading a bit more for a more established player who didn’t take 3 years to find his footing in his previous stop.
You never know when it comes to mid-season trades, but if he was only able to put up 8/97 on the season for a team with an equally weak or weaker receiving corps, I’m not sure how he’ll translate when needing to learn a whole new offense on the fly.
Keep in mind the Browns passing game is awful. The Lions passing game should help improve his numbers.
That’s a fair point, hotfuzz. That may be the case.
He’s only 24 and was born and raised in Detroit, plus he went to Michigan.
I must admit, I was hoping for more, especially after seeing how a team like the niners get Chase Young for a 3rd round pick. A tad disappointed in our lack of aggressiveness.
Problem is, you got to pay the man to make it worth it. We have huge deals to goff, st brown, Sewell, Jackson, etc to start and worry about
Wow this threw me off but makes sense
Exactly. The window is now. F them picks.
I don’t disagree with that sentiment, my post above is more of a reference to people questioning THIS move.
We still have an hour til deadline. While I hope Holmes has another move up his sleeve, it’s not the end of the world if he doesn’t. Getting James Houston back in a few weeks could arguably have just as big or a bigger effect on the defense than the majority of D-line trade targets.
I’m not sure if it’s a question of worries about culture fit or what, but I do not understand not getting a player like Chase Young for a 3rd rounder? We are going to need a presence on the D line to go with Hutch eventually, b/c we DO NOT pressure the QB unless it’s a team like LV last night. We did next to nothing against BALT as far as pressure goes. I hate to question Brad Holmes but not getting DL help is irritating to me.
Hutch got held damn near every play against baltimore. He was definitely getting pressure.
He was held on well under 20% of plays.
What most people assume is holding is within the rules if it’s between the shoulders most of the time.
Jalen Reeves-Maybin
Amon-Ra St. Brown
CJ Gardner-Johnson
Donovan Peoples-Jones
It-seems-like-the-Lions-are-developing-an-addiction-to-hypenated-players.
Campbell and Holmes have stated they are done… at 3:00 PM EST. Absolute BS. Good luck in the playoffs. With the defense as it stands, they’ll get steamrolled.
Either Brad Holmes is suffering from smartest guy in the room syndrome or Shelia Ford Hamp told him having their full complement picks when they host next year’s draft is more important than competing for a Super Bowl. Either way, it’s absolutely irresponsible to the supportive fans, city, and state. Pathetic.
Well first of all, the pick is in 2025. Second, it’s a 6th-round pick. I fail to see how this is remotely irresponsible or pathetic. How does having DPJ on the Lions not make the team better?
I was not talking about DPJ. Decent add. What I am talking about – adding to the defensive line to add a legitimate edge. I’m talking about adding CB depth. Every contender in n NFC got better. The Lions and their “culture” decided to stand pat. Do you see now?
No. I still don’t see how you label this as either irresponsible or pathetic. Underwhelming? Sure. Do I also wish they added a CB or DL help? Yep. The Lions could’ve definitely used a a player on the defense with a bit more accumen to help finish off the season. But Holmes decided to preserve his draft capital and keep the cap charge at a minimum for the future.
Nobody is promised tomorrow. Sit on that stuff all you want but what matters is the window that is open today.
With Peoples-Jones being a non factor this year regardless who the QB is I can understand the Browns wanting to get something for a guy who they aren’t going to resign. I just feel like there should be another move to bring in a receiver that will contribute something to this year’s squad since the Browns are still right in the thick of things. Guess if there’s no other moves maybe this gives Tillman more opportunities.
He’s a very solid receiver. Big guy that can block and use in the redzone which they are lacking from this position is kinda big.
Meh. Not much of a splash. I was really hoping for a DB and/or another edge rusher.
Me too
There’s no point in the Lions trading for a high quality DB. They had an all pro in Slay then traded him away when he asked for a salary boost.
That’s not at all what happened, but you do you.