One Late-Round Receiver Lions Should Target in 2023 NFL Draft

Princeton's Andrei Iosivas is late-round wide receiver Detroit Lions should target in 2023 NFL Draft.

The Detroit Lions will enter the 2023 season with four capable receivers returning to their roster: Amon-Ra St. Brown, Kalif Raymond, Josh Reynolds and Jameson Williams. 

If DJ Chark returns, you can make the argument that the Lions will open the upcoming season with a group of five solid wideouts. 

However, he's an unrestricted free agent this offseason, and there's no guarantee that Detroit general manager Brad Holmes is going to ink him to a new contract. 

It opens the door for Holmes & Co. adding another receiver either during free agency or this April's NFL Draft. 

If the Lions opt to go the route of the draft, don't be surprised if the organization waits to take a pass-catcher until the mid-to-late rounds. 

Remember, Detroit doesn't have a dire need at the position, especially with Williams expected to take a jump in production in year No. 2. Second, the Lions have more pressing needs across the defensive side of the ball. 

In my opinion, it makes Princeton WR Andrei Iosivas a great target for Detroit's front office. 

Princeton WR Andrei losivas  / Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports

The small-school prospect currently has a fifth-round grade, according to SI NFL Draft Bible. So, the Lions wouldn't have to use a Day 1 or Day 2 pick on the wideout, and could instead use the first two days of the draft to upgrade their defense.

What makes Iosivas so attractive to NFL scouts is the fact that he's an athletic specimen. He stands in at 6-foot-3, 200 pounds, and was an All-American track star at Princeton. His time of 6.71 in the 60-meter dash is an NCAA Indoor Championships meet record, and he holds the Ivy League record for the heptathlon. 

In case you didn't know, the heptathlon is comprised of seven events (the 100-meter hurdles, the high jump, shot put, the 200-meter dash, the long jump, the javelin throw and the 800-meter run).

For his efforts, Iosivas was named the Ivy League Most Outstanding Field Performer in indoor track and field competition in both 2020 and 2022.

So, the Princeton product has the prototypical athletic profile and build to succeed at the next level. 

And most importantly, he's a more than capable pass-catcher, possessing high-end ball skills and the ability to separate from defenders and make defenders miss in the open field.

In his final season at Princeton, he led the Ivy League in receptions (66), receiving yards (943) and touchdown catches (seven). And subsequently, he was a first-team All-Ivy League selection and an Associated Press second-team All-America selection.

As Iosivas' NFL Draft Bible profile reads, "Iosivas has excellent ball-tracking skills. He makes good mid-air adjustments to the ball and isn’t distracted at the catch point by defenders in his space. Iosivas has the size and arm length to create a large catch radius for his quarterback. Drops are rare for the All-Ivy League performer, and he finishes catches through contact. Iosivas is experienced deploying from the slot and out wide, but he primarily lines up on the outside." 

Even though Iosivas didn't face the stiffest competition in college, it appears that his game will translate well to the next level. And, I think he'd be a terrific find for the Lions on Day 3 of this year's NFL Draft.