3 teams that should try to entice Megatron out of retirement

Calvin Johnson was candid Tuesday about what drove him to retire at age 30 after the 2015 season, squarely in the prime of a Hall of Fame-type career.

The former wide receiver revealed that the Detroit Lions' inability to compete for a Super Bowl was a factor in his decision to walk away, and added that he considered playing elsewhere, but the franchise wouldn't release his contract.

But what if the Lions don't have a choice?

If Megatron's itch to play isn't quite gone, he could unretire and the Lions would be on the hook for his $21-million cap hit in 2017. Detroit has just under $6 million in space (according to Over The Cap), meaning the team would likely have to either release or trade him.

Here are three contenders that should try to entice the six-time Pro Bowler into making a comeback.

Oakland Raiders

The Raiders have already convinced one former star to give the NFL another shot. Why not make it two?

Oakland checks the contender box after proving its place among the league's elite with a sensational 2016 season. And Johnson already has connections with the team - the wideout attended Raiders OTAs in late May as a guest of offensive coordinator Todd Downing.

The two spent five seasons together with the Lions, so Downing should be able to almost seamlessly fit Johnson into a passing game that already boasts Derek Carr, Amari Cooper, and Michael Crabtree.

Thanks to the Raiders' recent draft success, they're in a position to give up future assets to try to win now. Flipping the Lions a few mid-to-late-round picks would be worth it to give Carr another great weapon, and with ample cap space, the Raiders could take on a reworked version of Johnson's contract.

New England Patriots

(Photo courtesy: Action Images)

Randy Moss 2.0., anyone?

If Johnson unretires in search of that elusive ring, New England would be the best place to do it. It's a strategy that many older veterans have successfully employed of late, such as Darrelle Revis and Chris Long.

The Patriots don't exactly need Johnson - they already have an embarrassment of riches on the offensive side of the ball after a busy offseason - but the one thing they do lack is a physical threat on the outside. At 31, Johnson's physical skills have likely declined, but you can bet offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels would find creative ways to use him.

Though Johnson has said that football's toll on his body became too much and he's happy in retirement, could he really turn down a call from Bill Belichick and the chance to play with Tom Brady?

The Patriots are looking to maximize their last championship window with Brady, and the temptation to add Johnson to an already fearsome offense would be enormous.

Green Bay Packers

Yes, this is the longest of shots, but the fit makes sense.

Of course, Green Bay would have to convince Johnson to return and hope no other team decided to trade for him, since the Lions would almost certainly never deal him within the division - especially not to their biggest rival for the NFC North crown.

The Packers would instead have to wait for Johnson to be released, and while Green Bay is notorious for rarely dipping its feet into the free-agency waters, Megatron - like Julius Peppers in 2014 - would be exactly the type of veteran they'd target.

The Packers' receiving corps of Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, and Davante Adams is good, but the group has shown its failings in recent years. And yes, Johnson would be a luxury, but one that Aaron Rodgers deserves.

If the prospect of a Rodgers-Johnson connection doesn't get you drooling, it may be time to find another favorite sport.