After the Browns traded with the Giants for Odell Beckham Jr. and the 49ers dealt with the Chiefs for Dee Ford, the trade wheels could be turning for all NFL general managers.

The Lions haven't been a part of the offseason trades yet, though they've made their share in the past, from dumping Golden Tate to acquiring Damon "Snacks" Harrison and Eli Harold.

But now that trades are a more popular method of either chasing the future or building up the present, here are three moves the Lions could consider:

Mike Mulholland | MLive.com

Don't Edit

Trade Marvin Jones to the Cardinals

Marvin Jones is Matthew Stafford's best and most experienced wide receiver. He's productive and in solid financial standing, but he is the Lions' most likely trade piece in this place and time.

Jones is 29 and is coming off a knee injury, but more importantly, something has felt off with him since last season. He might no longer be the best fit for how the Lions want to play or how they want to be. And he has cap hits of $9.1 million this year and next year that Detroit could consider spending elsewhere.

I'm not saying the Lions should trade Jones, but he could be the top wide receiver potentially available after the trades of Beckham Jr. to the Browns and Antonio Brown to the Raiders. If the Lions were interested in shopping Jones, they could work off those deals with the other teams that were interested.

The Cardinals could be one of those teams. They need receivers in the worst way, and in an offseason where they're committing to Kliff Kingsbury's Air Raid system and potentially to Kyler Murray running it, it could pay off to get the young quarterback a good weapon. The same will be true if Arizona sticks with Josh Rosen.

The Lions and Cardinals swapped salary-cap gurus this spring, creating some familiarity between the two and their respective contracts. Perhaps they could swap Jones for All-Pro cornerback Patrick Peterson as well as swapping Day 3 picks. Peterson has mentioned trade possibilities in the past, and as a 28-year-old All-Pro, he could join Darius Slay and incomer Justin Coleman to form one of the very best cornerback tandems in the NFL. With 23 career interceptions, Peterson would also join Coleman and Trey Flowers in bringing the defensive playmaking the Lions have been searching for this offseason.

Don't Edit

AP Photo

Don't Edit

Trade with the Browns for Duke Johnson

The Lions are committing to their running game as well as their passing game, which means committing to the versatility of their backfield. Theo Riddick has been Detroit's steady hand as the third-down back, but he is 27 now and has appeared to lose a step entering the final year of his deal. He isn't strong enough in any one area anymore to keep him locked in when he represents nearly $3 million in cap savings.

If the Lions can find a backup running back who can run, catch passes and pass protect all adequately, they can more comfortably run the adaptable offense they're looking for. Duke Johnson of the Browns would be a clear upgrade to Riddick in rushing and receiving while being 2.5 years younger. Despite his 5.0 yards per carry and 429 receiving yards last season, he's likely getting buried in Cleveland as a runner with the addition of Kareem Hunt and as a receiver with the acquisition of Odell Beckham Jr.

Johnson has three years left on his deal, but it was never a problem at $5.2 million a year. He'd better fit a simpler backfield on a team with less competition in the passing game, which is what Detroit is in many ways. With perhaps a fifth-round pick, or maybe a fourth, the Lions could offer the Browns a little of what they just gave up and acquire an elite third-down back who also has the upside to be the team's No. 2 rusher.

Don't Edit

AP Photo

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Trade with the Buccaneers for Cameron Brate

The Lions found a starting tight end in Jesse James, the former Steelers player they signed this week for $6.25 million a season. That provides a decent start to fixing the tight end room, but they have so far to go with it and that includes finding a co-starter with Luke Willson and Levine Toilolo walking out the door.

The Buccaneers are tight against the salary cap and have a new coach in Bruce Arians who doesn't use tight ends in the passing game as much. With O.J. Howard as the top option, the Buccaneers should be open to trading Cameron Brate. In fact, his contract is built to incentivize that, as his bonus has already been paid out and he's just due straight salaries averaging just less than $7 million a year over the next five. He also has no dead cap, making him no risk on any team that acquires him.

Brate, 27, would instantly become the Lions' top tight end. He's averaged 513 yards a season over the past three years, and most importantly, he has scored 20 touchdowns in that span, offering a clear area he improves the team over James.

The Lions are probably going to the draft for a tight end, but they could still do that with Brate, just later than planned. He'd instantly become the team's best short-range option, and it's worth wondering if he could be had for a Day 3 pick.