Who should the Lions Target At Running Back?

It has recently been reported that the Lions are looking to trade for a running back. With Jahvid Best starting the season on the PUP list, and Mikel Leshoure suspended for the first two games of the season the Lions seem to be thin at the position. This news excites some fans, possibly because they would love to see Maurice Jones-Drew in a Honolulu Blue jersey, and causes some concern for others because none of us are sure what exactly the Lions are looking for in the trade market. However, all fans agree the running back position needs to be solidified. Here are three players the Lions should be looking at in the trade market.

Chris Ivory– This is a name that has surfaced in just about every article since the news of the Lions searching for a running back began to swirl, and for good reason. Ivory makes the most since of any back for the Lions, mainly because the Lions can afford Ivory. Ivory is the fourth string back on a loaded New Orleans Saints team with a contract that doesn’t put too much of a dent of the cap space. Low contract and expendable means the Lions won’t have to give up too much and if Ivory doesn’t pan out the Lions can cut their losses relatively cheep.

Kendall Hunter– The 49ers are another team with great depth at the running back position with a nucleus of Frank Gore, Brandon Jacobs, Kendall Hunter, and LaMichael James. Hunter is a very unique back at 5’7, 199 lbs.  he possess very good strength, lateral quickness, and speed (4.42 forty). More importantly he breaks tackles well and with the way the offensive line has blocked for the Lions this preseason that is a trait the Lions should be interested in. Low contract and expendable, check, check.

Reggie Bush– This trade has next to no chance of happening because he doesn’t fit the budget plan and the Lions would have to give up a relatively high draft pick or two and possibly a solid rotation player. However, if the Dolphins feel they need to dump Bush because of his contract and the Lions trade the Dolphins an expiring contract, then this trade could be very beneficial for both sides.

I especially like the idea of having Bush on the Lions roster because he is exactly what the Lions need at the position. He possess Jahvid Best’s elite speed, he can make people miss, he can return punts (although the Lions probably wouldn’t want to risk the injury), and he rushed for 1,000 yards last season. Bush might not fit the budget, but there is a lot of value here because he fits the Lions scheme better than any other back that the Lions have a chance of getting, and could be a long term solution for Jahvid Best.

If the Lions can find a solution at running back, they should be able to close games out this season and make a deep playoff run.