The Lions are looking to strengthen their edge-rushing unit, and a trade proposal suggests a familiar name as a possible target.
When speculating on which edge rusher the Detroit Lions might pursue before the trade deadline, options range from unrealistic dreams to feasible possibilities.
Head coach Dan Campbell recently hinted that general manager Brad Holmes had him evaluate “a couple things,” suggesting a more serious pursuit of an edge rusher.
Up until the trade deadline on Nov. 5 at 4 p.m. ET, there will be speculation on who could join to bolster the team alongside Aidan Hutchinson. It’s worth paying attention when new candidates surface.
Trade Evaluation: Lions Eye Notable Edge Rusher
In his list of “10 NFL Trades That Need To Happen Before The Deadline,” Chris Licata of Athlon Sports suggested the following trade for the Lions:
Lions receive: Khalil Mack
Chargers receive: 2025 fourth-round pick, 2025 seventh-round pick
Mack, 33, is slightly older than ideal, but he ranks as Pro Football Focus’ third-highest graded edge rusher this season (as of Week 8) with a 92.1 run defense grade. Though he hasn’t recorded a sack since Week 3 (2.5 this season), he leads the Chargers with 22 pressures, including 10 in the last two games.
As Licata notes, the 3-3 Chargers would need to shift to “sell-mode” to move Mack. His restructured contract this March made his salary manageable, leaving the eight-time Pro Bowler with a $1.255 million base salary for this final contract year, with a prorated cost for the acquiring team.
Mack was previously considered a target for the Lions at the start of the 2024 offseason. Concerns about his age and finances made it unappealing then, but with the financials improved, giving up two Day 3 draft picks could be worth renting an experienced edge rusher with solid skills.
