The Detroit Lions head into roster-cut week facing a dilemma at wide receiver. A year ago, veteran Tim Patrick emerged as a steady contributor in a season where Detroit needed reliable depth. Now, despite earning $2.5 million for the 2025 season, Patrick could find himself squeezed out by an influx of rookie talent.
Bleacher Report’s Alex Kay recently suggested the Lions may explore the trade market, proposing Buffalo as a potential landing spot. In his scenario, Detroit ships Patrick to the Bills for a 2026 seventh-rounder — a modest return, but one that would allow the Lions to keep their promising young receivers without outright releasing the veteran.
Patrick’s journey back to the field has been nothing short of remarkable. After tearing his ACL in 2022 and rupturing his Achilles in 2023, the 31-year-old returned last fall to post 33 catches for 394 yards and three touchdowns. He was third on the team in receiving yards and started nine games, proving he still had value in Detroit’s offense.
But the Lions’ receiver room looks different in 2025. The team drafted Isaac TeSlaa and Dominic Lovett this spring, while undrafted rookie Jackson Meeks has been a pleasant surprise in camp and preseason. In Week 3 of the preseason, TeSlaa showcased his ability with a 33-yard touchdown grab. A week earlier, Meeks led Detroit in receiving with 93 yards, flashing playmaking ability that’s tough to ignore.
With Amon-Ra St. Brown entrenched as the leader of the unit, Jameson Williams developing into a vertical threat, and Kalif Raymond cemented as one of the league’s most dependable punt returners, Detroit suddenly has a numbers problem. To carry their three rookies, the Lions may need to dedicate six roster spots to receivers — something that leaves Patrick’s future cloudy.
Patrick has made over $26 million in his career, with his best seasons coming in Denver under Sean Payton, where he topped 700 yards in both 2020 and 2021. While he’s no longer expected to reach that level of production, his reliability, size, and red-zone presence still make him a viable option for a contender like Buffalo, which could use affordable depth behind Stefon Diggs’ replacement corps.
Detroit valued Patrick enough last year to give him a free-agent deal and significant playing time, but this is a numbers game. Cutting him wouldn’t save cap space, yet trading him would at least yield a draft pick while solving the roster crunch.
As NFL teams finalize their 53-man rosters ahead of the August 26 deadline, Patrick’s name is one to watch. He proved in 2024 he can still produce, but with three rookies pushing hard for spots, the Lions may decide his best fit is elsewhere.
