The Detroit Lions were among the NFL’s top offensive teams in 2023, but they struggled defensively. That being said, they must make improvements in that area this offseason if they are to build on their recent success and contend for a Super Bowl.
But the Lions will have to make franchise-altering decisions in order to accomplish that. They are fully aware that, in order to have a chance at winning, they must seize the opportunity presented by their current standing and keep enhancing their roster.
Having said that, acquiring Justin Simmons, a safety for the Denver Broncos, through trade might be the right combination to propel them to the top.
Detroit Lions Trade for Justin Simmons in Trade Proposal
The Lions-Broncos trade for Simmons was suggested in a recent Bleacher Report article by Brad Gagnon, who discussed what he called potentially landscape-shifting deals.
The acquisition of Simmons should help the Lions, who need a defensive lift. Moving an older veteran seems to be the appropriate decision for the Broncos, who appear to be headed toward a rebuild without a quarterback to guide them.
Not to add, by cutting ties with Simmons, they can free up some valuable cap space. The 30-year-old safety is bound by the terms of his 2021–2024 $61 million contract, which has a $18.2 million cap hit, according to Spotrac.
Here’s what BR said about the potential trade:
Yes, it isn’t quite as flashy as the others. However, given how near the Detroit Lions were to winning the Super Bowl in 2023, acquiring a game-changing defense might be the kind of acquisition that elevates the team to the top in 2024.
Fitting that description and filling a need for a defense with plenty of opportunity to grow is veteran safety Justin Simmons, who ranked 13th in DVOA (defense-adjusted value over average) in 2023, according to FTN.
According to Spotrac, the Denver Broncos, who haven’t been competitive, may save $14.5 million by letting Simmons go before he has a walk-year. Simmons is on the wrong side of thirty.
They can now send him out of the conference to a team that, if he plays competitively in 2024, might gain better value for its money.
When the formal offseason kicks out, it’s definitely something worth looking into, as the transaction can help both the Lions and the Broncos
Detroit Lions’ Defense Needs a Boost
As previously indicated, the Detroit Lions would benefit from adding a defensive player to help them become a contender. They advanced all the way to the NFC Championship, but they were destroyed by their overall defense, which was ranked 19th.
In the conference match, the Lions led the San Francisco 49ers by 17 points at the half. However, the Lions faltered and let the Niners win.
Although Dan Campbell’s aggressive offensive is fantastic, they obviously need a strong defense to counterbalance it. Bringing in a guy such as Justin Simmons is unquestionably a positive move. The Lions should not hesitate to pick up the phone and make the call if the Broncos make him available.
