The Lions need to go after this second year receiver who just got shockingly released

In April of 2023 I was still at Pride of Detroit and I was looking for a receiver to mock to the Detroit Lions. The guy I went with probably the most was Wake Forrest receiver A.T. Perry. The Saints wound up drafting him in the sixth-round of last years draft, but now he is available again after the Saints surprisingly waived him at the end of last week. Perry went unclaimed on waivers and the Lions need to strike before someone else does.

The 24-year-old receiver is everything the Lions are looking for when it comes to an X-receiver type. He's 6-foot-5, runs a 4.47 and can go up and get the ball. Most of all he presents a long term fix for the Lions.

While I think that Tim Patrick has looked good so far, this is a better opportunity for the Lions since Patrick will turn 31 next month and he's only on a one-year deal. The Lions can hold onto Patrick, but this is a better long term option than both Allen Robinson and Donovan Peoples-Jones.

Perry had 12 catches for 246 yards and four touchdowns in his rookie year. This season he's been the odd man out with Chris Olave, Rahshid Shaheed and Alvin Kamara taking most of the targets up. In Detroit he could get on the roster today and work into the offense. If not that, he can get onto the practice squad and then get elevated when the Lions feel ready for him.

You might remember Perry from last year when he had his best NFL game against the Falcons in Week 18. He grabbed two touchdowns in that game. It looked like he might be the Saints future at that time.

Related: NFL Analyst gives the Lions' Terrion Arnold pick a failing grade without considering context