For a second straight August, Tim Patrick will be on the move. A year after making a Denver-to-Detroit trip, the veteran wide receiver is heading to Jacksonville.
The Lions are trading Patrick to the Jaguars, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero reports. The Jags are sending a 2026 sixth-round pick to the Lions in this trade. Patrick is tied to a guaranteed one-year, $2.5MM deal. The deal is now official, and the Jags waived wide receiver Austin Trammell to clear a roster spot.
Patrick, 31, had missed two full seasons but managed to stay healthy after joining the Lions in 2024. The Broncos moved on from the 6-foot-4 receiver following training camp last year, dangling him in trades before not including him as part of their initial 53-man roster. As Denver went with a younger group of pass catchers alongside Courtland Sutton, Patrick caught on with Detroit’s practice squad before making a quick move onto the active roster.
The former UDFA caught 33 passes for 394 yards and three TDs, working as a possession receiver in an explosive Lions attack. Patrick operated as an auxiliary wideout for a Lions team that had three defined targets ahead of him — Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Sam LaPorta — and made key contributions for a 15-2 juggernaut. The season reestablished some value for Patrick, who suffered ACL and Achilles tears during the 2022 and ’23 training camps.
While Patrick did not live up to the three-year, $30MM extension he signed with the Broncos during the 2021 season, his reemergence caught the Jaguars’ attention. Patrick posted back-to-back 700-plus-yard years (2020-21), drawing a second-round RFA tender, and will now be positioned to complement Brian Thomas Jr. and Travis Hunter. The Jags also signed Dyami Brown to a one-year deal.
The ex-Commanders Day 2 draftee and Patrick are positioned as complementary pieces, though it is still not known how much Hunter will play on offense as he prepares for a historic two-way role. Patrick stands to give the Jags some cover there, as Hunter may not be available on a full-time basis offensively.
This trade clears some runway space for Lions third-round pick Isaac TeSlaa, a Combine standout whom the team traded up for in the third round. The Lions used third- and seventh-round picks on receivers (Dominic Lovett going in Round 7) and kept six on their initial 53-man roster Tuesday. Detroit traded up 30 spots (from No. 102 to No. 70) for TeSlaa, highlighting an interest in developing him as its WR3 for the time being. Two years remain on Williams’ rookie deal.
Think this signals that Hunter is going to be playing a decent amount on defense this year…I don’t think the Jags wanted Parker Washington getting too many snaps
I hope Trevor can’t overthrow a 6’4″ WR, but we’ll see.
Loved Tim in Detroit. He blocks, catches everything, and brings energy! The Jags will love him but Teslaaa just showed up too quick to not play him in Detroit.
Dominic Lovett showed that much to let go of Patrick?
I would guess this has more to do with TeSlaa looking like he can contribute on the earlier side, since TeSlaa could take on more of the roles you would ask of Patrick than Lovett would.
They probably needed his $2.5M to sign Zadarius Smith
No, Isaac TeSlaa did though…
Yeah, I just wasnt sure TeSlaa was ready for that big a role yet but apparently he was. Williams hopefully can continue to get better himself especially inside and over the middle.
TeSlaa is making some noise. Apparently didn’t have very productive college season his last year but is flashing a lot of upside with his opportunities. Sounds like he beat out Patrick for WR3.
His lack of production had everything to do with a lack of quarterback and play calling…. He didn’t drop 1 pass in his 2 years at Arkansas. He’s proven to the Lions that he’s a willing worker downfield blocking which is importance to them…
Right now Teslas are very quiet. Too quiet that some pedestrians can’t even hear it driving by
Even though TeSlaa had a very good preseason, this seems like a very bad decision for Detroit. They gave up a good WR without any depth for the X-WR role and received almost nothing in return. Even the saved cap space is rather marginal. I understand that the new OC obviously does not have many ideas for utilizing Patrick, but the player is talented enough be be called upon regardless.
Gruß,
BSHH
This is about TeSlaa ascension not about Patricks declining skills. TeSlaa is playing ST & is now a 3 down go route that will have one on one coverage. You guys get that right?