The Detroit Lions are openly seeking an edge rusher as the 2024 NFL trade deadline nears, following the loss of Aidan Hutchinson and Marcus Davenport.
Head coach Dan Campbell has acknowledged this need, hinting that the team is actively pursuing options and that a move is a matter of “when, not if.”
Campbell explained last week that the Lions could explore internal options or a trade to increase defensive pressure. “We need a little bit more (pressure),” he noted, adding that general manager Brad Holmes is still exploring all possibilities.
He mentioned players like Isaiah Thomas, Mitchell Agude, and Al-Quadin Muhammad as potential in-house solutions, but indicated the team is “open to looking for anything we can.”
When asked Monday about the possibility of a trade, Campbell smiled and hinted at its likelihood. “Yeah, could be,” he replied, according to Colton Pouncy of The Athletic.
He emphasized that the Lions are well aware of the deadline, per Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, suggesting a move could happen soon.
The Lions managed without Hutchinson in Week 7 against the Minnesota Vikings, yet pressure noticeably dropped off against the Tennessee Titans.
While Detroit still dominated Tennessee, Campbell acknowledged that tougher opponents could expose this gap.
Though Campbell says he’s “not concerned” about the current lack of edge pressure, it’s clear that the Lions’ Super Bowl aspirations would benefit from bolstering their pass rush.
A trade in the next eight days appears inevitable, with Campbell’s comments suggesting it may happen imminently.
However, a trade for a top-tier rusher like Myles Garrett or Maxx Crosby seems unlikely. Instead, the Lions may look for a more affordable option to address this crucial need.
