Michigan edge rusher Josaiah Stewart has met with the Detroit Lions
Defensive end Josaiah Stewart prepares for the NFL draft at Michigan football pro day in Ann Arbor, Friday, March 21, 2025.
The Detroit Lions’ never-ending search for playmakers has led them to the fastest wide receiver in this year’s NFL draft. And if they’re able to land a new deep threat with the 28th pick in the first round, it could provide a big clue about their plans for the future.
The Lions hosted Texas wide receiver Matthew Golden on a predraft visit over the weekend, NFL Network reported. Golden, a potential first-round pick, ran a 4.29-second 40-dash at this year’s combine, best among receivers and second-fastest among all draft prospects.
Kentucky cornerback Maxwell Hairston, who ran a 4.28-second 40 at the combine, made a local visit to the Lions last week.
The Lions return their top four receivers from last season in Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Tim Patrick and Kalif Raymond, but could have a long-term need for a field-stretcher at the position.
Williams, one of the fastest players in the NFL, is entering the final year of his rookie contract after the Lions traded up to take him in the first round of the 2022 draft.
Lions general manager Brad Holmes said last month the team likely will pick up the fifth-year option on Williams’ rookie contract but was noncommittal about trying to sign Williams to a long-term extension.
“There’s a lot of extensions that are hopefully coming, but it’s just one that you just don’t know what’s going to happen from a financial standpoint cause a wide receiver, it’s expensive,” Holmes said. “It’s very expensive.”
Holmes has been up front about his plan build the Lions into a championship contender by drafting, developing and retaining young talent. The Lions signed 2021 draft picks St. Brown, Penei Sewell and Alim McNeill to extensions last spring and are currently working on deals with 2022 picks Aidan Hutchinson and Kerby Joseph.
Next year, 2023 draft picks Jahmyr Gibbs, Jack Campbell, Brian Branch and Sam LaPorta will be extension-eligible for the first time.
Williams, who set career-highs with 58 catches, 1,001 yards and seven receiving touchdowns last season, is scheduled to make $2.636 million this fall with another $15.49 million guaranteed in 2026 once his fifth-year option is exercised.
On an extension, Williams’ salary could jump even more with the league’s top pass catchers now making between $30 million and $40 million per season.
In Golden, the Lions could find a more cost-controlled deep threat for their offense, one that would help give them the financial flexibility to re-sign key players at other positions.
Golden led Texas with 58 catches for 987 yards (17 yards per catch) last season after spending the previous two years at Houston. Like Williams, Golden also was an electric return man in college.
This year’s draft is considered light on top-end receiving talent with Golden one of about five receivers with a chance to go in the first round. According to Fox, the Lions also are hosting Arkansas receiver Isaac TeSlaa on a top-30 visit. TeSlaa, from Hudsonville, started his college career at Hillsdale and ran a 4.43-second 40-yard dash at 6 feet 4 and 214 pounds.
Here’s a list of players known or reported to have visited the Lions this spring:
Top 30 visits
LB Ruben Hyppolite, Maryland (told reporters); DL Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M (per Draft Network); LB Chaz Chambliss, Georgia (per Draft Network); OT Anthony Belton, North Carolina State; Que Robinson, Alabama (per Fox); OG Dylan Fairchild, Georgia (per Draft Network); WR Matthew Golden, Texas (per NFL Network); WR Isaac TeSlaa, Arkansas (per Fox); S Jonas Sanker, Virginia (per NFL Network); RB Lan Larison, UC-Davis (per Draft Network)
Local visits
QB Cole Snyder, Eastern Michigan; OL Josh Priebe, Michigan; OL Spencer Brown, Oklahoma (Walled Lake Western); OL Luke Newman, Michigan State; RB Jacquez Stuart, Toledo; RB Peny Boone, UCF (Detroit King); RB Myren Harris, Davenport; WR Tyrone Broden, Arkansas (West Bloomfield); TE Blake Daniels, Eastern Michigan; TE Anthony Torres, Toledo; TE Maliq Carr, Houston (Oak Park); TE Chris Carter, Northwestern (Detroit Country Day, per Draft Network).
CB Maxwell Hairston, Kentucky; CB Aamir Hall, Michigan; S Makari Paige, Michigan; S Jaylen Reed, Penn State (Detroit King); S Rod Heard, Notre Dame (Farmington Hills Harrison); DB Daraun McKinney, Central Michigan (per SI); OLB Josaiah Stewart, Michigan; LB Devin Veresuk, University of Windsor; LB Dorian Mausi, Auburn (U-D Jesuit); LB Kobe King, Penn State (Detroit Cass Tech); LB Jordan Turner, Michigan State; LB Cornell Wheeler, Kansas (West Bloomfield); DT Derrick Harmon, Oregon (Derrick Loyola); DT Darius Alexander, Toledo; DT Maverick Hansen, Michigan State; DT Ali Saad, Bowling Green (Dearborn); DT Peyton Price, Eastern Michigan; DT Muftah Ageli, Northwestern Oklahoma State (Windsor); LS William Wagner, Michigan; K Griffin Milovanski, Wayne State.
