With Just 2 Sacks in 3 Seasons, Lions Urged to Cut Ties With Struggling $7.7 Million Defender Without Delay

The outlook in Detroit is generally positive. The franchise is retaining many key contributors from last season, but there’s a new wrinkle this year: major shifts on the coaching staff. Both offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn have departed, leaving head coach Dan Campbell with a revamped group of assistants. As a result, many around the league are keeping a close eye on how the Lions will adjust on both sides of the ball.

However, attention has now turned to defensive lineman Josh Paschal, a former second-round pick from the 2022 NFL Draft, whose production hasn’t met expectations.

Analyst Calls for Immediate Trade of Paschal

In a recent piece for Detroit Jock City, Efstathios Savvidis argued that the Lions should part ways with Paschal sooner rather than later. Savvidis noted that while Detroit is still in a strong position with Dan Campbell leading the charge, they’ll face challenges replicating last season’s success, especially after the recent coaching exits.

Paschal’s stats paint a concerning picture. Over his stint with the Lions, he has logged just five sacks, 12 tackles for loss, and 15 quarterback hits. His 2024 campaign was underwhelming, with only two sacks, five tackles for loss, and eight quarterback hits in 10 starts. Pro Football Focus assigned him a discouraging overall grade of 54.5, placing him 154th among 211 qualified edge rushers. His pass rush rating was an even more troubling 48.0.

Limited Impact Despite Opportunities

Savvidis pointed out that even when Detroit’s defense was hampered by injuries last season, Paschal failed to step up in any meaningful way. While his performance against the run earned a modest 62.5 grade, he still hasn’t emerged as the impactful edge defender the Lions envisioned when they drafted him.

Given Detroit’s defensive needs—especially in the secondary, which ranked near the bottom of the league in passing yards allowed per game—Savvidis suggests a trade could be mutually beneficial. Offloading Paschal could help the Lions address their defensive backfield while giving Paschal a fresh start in a new scheme with more opportunities.

The argument is clear: Detroit should try to gain value for Paschal now rather than risk losing him for nothing down the line. Still, with a thin rotation at defensive end and the possibility that a new coaching staff could unlock more from him, there’s reason for the Lions to carefully weigh their options before making a final decision.