With just two weeks of games remaining, teams must make some final decisions about the direction they want to take their rosters. The NFL trade deadline is quickly coming.As they attempt to qualify for the playoffs, some of the contenders will be looking around the league to try and plug a few gaps. In order to raise additional draft capital, other failing teams will begin to try to cut some veterans.
The wide receiver market has already seen a lot of activity as teams search for perimeter players with more explosiveness. A few hours after Davante Adams was traded from the Raiders to the Jets, Amari Cooper was traded to the Bills. Due to injuries to Rashee Rice and JuJu Smith-Schuster, the Chiefs added DeAndre Hopkins early on Wednesday morning.
One of the clubs that will probably need some assistance at the trade deadline is the Detroit Lions. Following their victory over the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, the Lions are now 5-1 and leading the NFC North.
Lately, the Lions’ offense has been booming, and quarterback Jared Goff has been a serious contender for MVP. Detroit is defense has been a little more erratic, and they took a serious one when standout pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson fractured his leg against the Cowboys, ending his season.
The Lions are still strong contenders for the Super Bowl even without Hutchinson, and they may be among the teams trying to add players before the trade deadline on November 5. As the NFC playoff battle heats up, they can target these two moves to get better.
The Lions would be receiving an iron man who has only missed one game in his career and is excellent against the run and pass if they can close this deal. Crosby has 33.5 sacks in 40 games since 2022 and seldom ever leaves the field. In addition, he has led the NFL in tackles for loss the past two seasons and is doing so again now.
Although it does not appear likely that the Browns will be open to trading Garrett this season, the Raiders may also make a comparable offer to them for Myles Garrett. In each of the last six seasons, the current Defensive Player of the Year has recorded double-digit sacks and
For the proper price, a few clubs that are rapidly losing their chances of making the playoffs might be open to trading a top pass rusher to Detroit. The most apparent choice is the Las Vegas Raiders’ Maxx Crosby, who would greatly improve Detroit is pass rush.
After dealing Davante Adams, the Raiders solidified their reputation as sellers. Now, they are dealing with quarterback Aidan O’Connell’s injuries while experiencing a three-game losing skid. The Raiders’ current roster is obviously unprepared to contend in the postseason, and they may receive a substantial windfall in exchange for Crosby, which would probably include several first-round picks.Azeez Ojulari (20 sacks in 42 career games) or Josh Uche (11.5 sacks in 2022) are two options the Lions have if they do not want to take as big a risk. They can also ask the New York Giants for Ojulari. In any case, the Lions’ top need at the deadline is now a pass rusher, so they should be aggressive in their search.
