Blockbuster Buccaneers-Lions trade would be a total steal for Tampa Bay

So much attention at the moment is focused on what teams might add in the NFL Draft, but the Tampa Bay Buccaneers might want to pay attention to players already in the league.

According to a report from senior NFL reporter Albert Breer, there are people in league circles who believe that the Detroit Lions could be open to trading away wide receiver Jameson Williams.

The Bucs are already believed to be in heavy pursuit of a speedy wide receiver in the 2025 NFL Draft, and Williams could be the true speed-threat the offense has been missing. Along with the approaching decision regarding his fifth-year option, Williams comes with some character and injury concerns, which could explain why the Lions are reportedly open to moving on.

Still, if he’s available at the right price, the Bucs should seriously consider making a move.

Jameson Williams is the answer to the Buccaneers' need for speed

Williams caught 58 passes for 1,001 yards and seven touchdowns in 2024. As a receiver, he offers elite speed that always makes him a big-play threat.

Williams’ speed is hard to quantify, as he never officially ran the 40-yard dash as a prospect due to an ACL injury he suffered that prevented him from testing. Williams boldly suggests he could run a 4.1-which might be a stretch-but he is undoubtedly one of the fastest players in the NFL.

During a Week 14 win against the Green Bay Packers last season, Williams reached a top speed of 20.45 MPH, which was the highest speed recorded by any ball-carrier during that week and one of the highest figures overall during the season.

In 2024, Williams had five catches of 50+ yards, which tied for the league lead with Jacksonville's Brian Thomas Jr. and Washington's Terry McLaurin. Suffice to say, Williams has cemented himself as one of the NFL's most explosive playmakers.

The Buccaneers are familiar with the threat that Williams poses to opposing defenses. In two career games against Tampa Bay, Williams has recorded seven catches for 132 yards and a touchdown.

The Bucs currently have Mike Evans and Chris Godwin as their top two receivers, and while the duo has long formed a reliable pair of targets for Tampa Bay, neither is known for their top-end speed. Evans wins primarily with his physicality and size, while Godwin’s bread and butter is his smooth route running, reliable hands, and YAC ability.

The Bucs drafted Jalen McMillan in the third round last year, and while he showed exciting flashes as a rookie, he also doesn’t possess high-end speed.

The team also has Trey Palmer, their sixth-round draft choice in 2023, who was drafted to add more speed to the receiver room. But after an underwhelming 2024 for Palmer, the Bucs are likely to add to the position room yet again in search of a dynamic speed-threat to complete the puzzle to their already explosive offense.

The Bucs have shown strong interest in the speedy Matthew Golden out of Texas, a projected first-round receiver prospect in the 2025 NFL Draft, who ran a 4.29 40-yard dash.

Williams plays even faster than Golden, and wouldn’t cost the Buccaneers a first-round draft selection. The Bucs could likely acquire Williams for a day two pick, which they are considering using to draft a receiver anyway.

Due to circumstances such as Williams’ injury history that included a torn ACL, or a two-game suspension he served last season for violating the leagues performance enhancing drugs policy, the Lions could have some trouble finding anybody willing to pay a hefty price for Williams.

The two front offices have done business as recently as last offseason, when the Buccaneers dealt cornerback Carlton Davis to Detroit for the No. 92 overall pick in the third round, which was ultimately used to select wide receiver Jalen McMillan.

Williams is still only 24 years old, and could become a long time contributor in Tampa Bay if the Bucs are interested and able to pry him from Detroit for the right price.

While frankly, a trade for Williams isn’t the most likely scenario for Tampa Bay, it is certainly fun for Bucs fans to dream—a receiving trio of Evans, Godwin, and Williams would immediately form the most dangerous wide receiver trio in the NFL.