8 Players Lions Could Trade for at Deadline
The NFL trade deadline is set for Tuesday, and the Detroit Lions could make a major move.
Lions general manager Brad Holmes has shown aggressiveness in the past. Though savvy with his decisions, the leader has been quick to act in the event of making a move to benefit the team.
With a 5-2 start and plenty of optimism, the 2023 season is one that could be memorable for Lions fans. Holmes has a chance to bolster the talent on the roster with a strong deadline performance.
Here are eight players the Lions could trade for before Tuesday’s deadline.
EDGE Danielle Hunter
The Lions’ biggest rival to their NFC North throne is also currently the team that has made plenty of deals with them. Holmes and Kwesi Adofo-Mensah have made multiple moves together within the last year.
Now, Detroit could utilize this connection to make a massive trade. Aidan Hutchinson needs a running mate on the edge, and Hunter would fit perfectly. Given the familiarity between the two teams, this would be an ideal move.
CB Darnay Holmes
Holmes has been an up-and-down corner for the Giants in the past, but has fallen out of favor in 2023. He took a pay cut this offseason to preserve his roster spot with New York, and could be a wise investment for Detroit.
The Lions’ secondary questions boil down to their confidence in Jerry Jacobs and those behind him. Detroit has Cam Sutton as a reliable number one, but a player like Holmes could offer valuable insurance behind Jacobs.
Will Harris has struggled in his opportunities on the outside. Because of this, Detroit should be looking for upgrades at the cornerback position in the short term.
WR Terrace Marshall
Marshall was granted permission to seek a trade earlier in the month. He has been a moderately productive receiver for the Panthers since entering the league in 2021 as a second-round pick.
He possesses solid speed, and has been a reliable receiver from a hands perspective. He’s struggled to assert himself in Carolina’s offense, notching just 16 catches throughout the season to this point.
If he were to be moved to Detroit, the Lions would be making a low-risk move to add a depth receiver. Marshall’s production may not warrant the use of a high pick, and Holmes has made multiple moves to add receiver depth in his three-year tenure as the team’s GM.
READ MORE: Is Chris Braswell the future edge rusher for the Lions?
Could an Alabama pass rusher be added by the Lions?
The 2023 season has seen the Detroit Lions struggle to create a reliable pass rush.
Only one Lions player has amassed 30 pressures this season, and that man is second-year pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson.
It makes sense to select a young player in the 2024 NFL Draft in light of this inefficiency. One of the team’s most pressing requirements going forward may be an edge rusher.
With the Lions expected to make the playoffs, they won’t be in the market for a top player at the position unless they trade up. As a result, the team would be forced to look into the second tier of pass rushers when April comes around.
A player who fits the mold as a projected late first-rounder who has plenty of talent is Alabama’s Chris Braswell. The Crimson Tide’s defense is anchored by fellow edge rusher Dallas Turner, but Braswell has been productive in his own right throughout the 2023 season.
Braswell has eight sacks this season ahead of the SEC championship game Saturday. Additionally, he has 10.5 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles and an interception. He’s proven to be a true defensive playmaker.
The Lions need someone with this type of ability to work opposite Hutchinson, who draws attention from multiple offensive linemen each time he takes the field
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