The Cleveland Browns are trading wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones to the Detroit Lions for a sixth-round pick.
Lions general manager Brad Holmes confirmed the trade Tuesday afternoon. A Detroit native who played in college at Michigan, Peoples-Jones is returning to his home-town NFL franchise.
“We’re excited about the kid,” Holmes said of Peoples-Jones. “He’s had good production in the past. He’ll be a good fit here. He’s a high-character kid. …
“He’s from Detroit. He’s a local kid. I think he’ll be very very happy. I just talked to the kid. He’s fired up about getting this process going.”
Peoples-Jones, 24, has played his entire NFL career with the Browns since they drafted him in the sixth round in 2020. He’s been a regular starter since his second season and tallied a career-high 61 catches for 839 yards and three touchdowns in 2022.
His production has dropped this season in a Browns passing attack that ranks 30th in the NFL (180 yards per game) and has struggled to find consistency with a hobbled Deshaun Watson and backups PJ Washington and Dorian Thompson-Robinson splitting time at quarterback. Peoples-Jones has eight catches for 97 yards and no touchdowns in seven games.
He’ll join a Lions offense that’s one of the NFL’s most dynamic with an opportunity to contribute to contender. Pro Bowler Amon-Ra St. Brown leads the Lions receiving corps alongside veteran Josh Reynolds and breakout rookie tight end Sam LaPorta.
The Lions are also breaking in deep threat and former 2022 first-round pick Jameson Williams, who missed most of his rookie season with injury and the first four games in 2023 due to a gambling suspension. Rookie running back Jahmyr Gibbs is also a regular contributor to the Lions passing attack.
A 6-2, 204-pound receiver with speed, Peoples-Jones projects as a possession target for quarterback Jared Goff with the upside to make the occasional downfield play.