The Detroit Lions are likely not going to be in the market during the trading deadline on Tuesday even with losing wideout Ryan Broyles for the season to an ACL injury, but just for the fun of it, what could the Lions actually get in a deal for Calvin Johnson if they wanted to trade him? Most likely a ton.
Like I JUST said, this is pure speculation and fun and not a real option for the Lions or something that Detroit is considering, but in honor of the deadline, what could a player like Calvin get? After the game he had this week with a ridiculous 329-yards receiving, it would be quite the haul and since he is one of the most talented players in the game, it likely would take at least three first round picks on top of some other high picks, including second and third rounders.
Johnson is a freak of an athlete and one of the best players in the league and clearly now he has established himself as by far the best receiver in the NFL. There are teams that could afford to do a move like that, maybe someone crazy like the Dallas Cowboys or 49ers if they had all the picks, but any team would be happy to have him. This isn't about "realistic" deals anyway, really it's just speculating what his value could be. For example:
Trent Richardson was dealt in a surprising way this season and he was a former top three pick and while he is not as established as Johnson, he is very talented. The Browns gave the Colts Richardson for a first round pick next season and another solid comparison is the RGIII trade deal when the Redskins sent three first round picks and a second round pick to the Rams.
That one is likely more in the wheel house and that was just to get a player that MIGHT be good in Griffin. So three is the minimum at least and it probably would take even more than that, plus a second and third round pick. Johnson is having an amazing season, catching 47 balls for 821 yards to lead the league and he also has seven touchdowns.
If the deal were actually to go down now, the team would be giving up while he is very hot, as he is coming off of a 14 catch, 329 yard game and he also has scored fief touchdowns in his past five games and he has gone over 100 yards in three of the last five. Johnson is fast, big, strong and skilled with his hands and he ranks seventh in the league in receptions, fifth in TDs and first in yards and yards per game. Getting him would take quite the haul to say the least.
