The Detroit Lions are in the market for a wide receiver -- through the draft or free agency.
We'll wait for the laughter to die down.
Lions general manager Martin Mayhew said Wednesday that he will continue to give quarterback Matt Stafford weapons in the passing game.
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"I'll keep loving them," Mayhew said, via the Detroit Free Press. "I got to pick them better."
The Lions' obsession with receivers goes back to former GM Matt Millen. He used three consecutive top-10 picks on receivers Charles Rodgers (No. 2), Roy Williams (No. 7) and Mike Williams (No. 10) from 2003 to 2005. Only Roy Williams had a semblance of a career. Millen finally hit on Calvin Johnson as the No. 2 overall pick in 2007.
Mayhew picked up where Millen left off, drafting Derrick Williams (third round), Tim Toone (seventh round), Titus Young (second round) and Ryan Broyles (second round) in his four drafts. Mayhew also traded for Mike Thomas (2012) and signed free agents Bryant Johnson (2009) and Nate Burleson (2010).
Mayhew used the Green Bay Packers as an example of a team that has benefited from drafting receivers Greg Jennings, Jordy Nelson, James Jones and Randall Cobb. That only shows the wide gap in talent evaluation between the teams. Megatron was the only can't-miss of the group the Lions picked.
The Lions want to continue to give Stafford offensive help, but they haven't paid as much attention to the running game. Mayhew has drafted three running backs and only one still is a factor. He admitted to putting too much trust in Jahvid Best returning from a concussion. Aaron Brown is out of the NFL. Mikel Leshoure averaged 3.7 yards per carry in 2012.
Some defensive help also might aid Stafford, but Mayhew has all but ignored the secondary high in the draft. The Lions selected one cornerback between 2009 to 2011. Safety Louis Delmas has been the only secondary player Mayhew has taken in the first two rounds.
Receivers for Stafford are great and all, but there are a few more areas of need on that roster.
Follow Kareem Copeland on Twitter @kareemcopeland.
