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Clemson receiver Sammy Watkins says the Lions' interest in him is "kinda serious." (AP File Photo)

ALLEN PARK -- The Detroit Lions courtship with Sammy Watkins has been long, and serious, and well-publicized. And Watkins has felt the love.

"It's kinda serious," he told FoxSports.com.

Watkins, a top-five prospect who could go as high as No. 2 overall to St. Louis, will be long gone by the time Detroit selects at No. 10. But he believes Detroit could strike a trade to move up for him.

"I'd be very happy to end up there," he told the New York Post. "I wouldn't have to be a superhero (due to Calvin Johnson)."

That echoes what he told MLive during the combine: He believes Detroit would be an ideal landing spot because Johnson would absorb much of the pressure that highly drafted receivers face.

"That's the best situation to go into, because then you're looking at a great player every week," Watkins said. "He's teaching you the ropes, breaking down film of the other other guys. So that'd be a great transition."

Detroit met with Watkins at least twice, including dining with him before Clemson's pro day and hosting him for a visit to the team's Allen Park headquarters.

Lions vice chairman Bill Ford met with Watkins during his visit here, and general manager Martin Mayhew has gushed about the receiver over the past month, despite a track record for saying little about individual prospects.

"Sammy's a very talented guy," Mayhew said this week. "He would fit us. He can make plays. His track record speaks for itself, I think."

Watkins had 101 catches last year with Clemson, then ran a 4.43-second 40-yard dash at the combine to solidify his place atop the best receiver class in recent memory.

Mayhew pointed out his sure-handedness as well, after dropping just four passes last year.

"I think that's really important," Mayhew said. "It kind of goes without saying, but you'd be amazed that, you watch tape -- combine tape of guys -- and they can't catch. That's kind of a problem if you're going to be a receiver. So I think that's pretty important.

"It depends on what you're going to use him for, but guys with speed excite us, because a guy that can make a 5-yard play into a 90-yard play is something you want. But those things are probably two of the most important qualities right now."

Mayhew said this week he already has talked to rival general managers about possible draft-day trades, and NFL Network later reported that Detroit is probing for bargain trades into the top five.

That would make sense, considering Mayhew is slotted at 10, but doesn't believe there are 10 elite players in the draft.

And of course, he really, really likes Watkins.

It's kinda serious.