Why the Detroit Lions should trade for Patrick Peterson

The Detroit Lions can improve their team in multiple ways and increase their playoff chances by trading for Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson.

The Detroit Lions finally look like a force to be reckoned with in the NFC North. On Sunday, we saw the Lions handle the Miami Dolphins with relative ease thanks to an effective running game and an efficient passing game, with the defense doing enough to keep the Dolphins out of the end zone too often.

With the NFL trade deadline fast approaching, Detroit has an opportunity to make some moves to improve this Lions team before it passes on Tuesday, October 30, 2018, at 4:00 p.m. ET.

The Lions are in the thick of a heated NFC North battle and if they make the right move(s) before the trade deadline comes and goes, they could give themselves an extra boost.

Detroit recently lost All-Pro punt returner and cornerback Jamal Agnew, placing him on Injured Reserve per ESPN’s Adam Schefter:

Losing Agnew hurts the Lions in multiple ways. First, he is an invaluable return man that can break a long return at any moment. Second, Agnew was the Lions main slot cornerback, and Detroit doesn’t seem to have a clear replacement for him at the moment.

As we saw on Sunday, the Lions replaced Agnew with wide receivers Golden Tate and T.J. Jones as the punt returner, and defensive back Teez Tabor saw an increase in snaps at corner.

Someone the Lions should attempt to trade for in order to amend this loss is Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson. Peterson is one of the few elite corners in today’s NFL and his presence would give Detroit’s defense an immediate boost. He also has ample experience as a punt returner and has performed well when handed those duties in the past.

Normally, no team would want to trade away an elite cornerback like Peterson, but he seems to be unhappy with the way things are going in Arizona right now. ESPN Insider Adam Schefter earlier tweeted:

Schefter certainly makes it sound as if Peterson wants out of Arizona. So far this season, the eight-year veteran has recorded 35 total tackles, three pass defends, two interceptions and a sack in seven games. His numbers throughout his career are fairly unimpressive. But you have to remember this is a player opposing offenses actively avoid.

Adding Peterson to Detroit’s defense would be a great thing for this team. His addition would give the Lions another top-tier cornerback to pair with Darius Slay, who is a Pro Bowler in his own right.

Now, Slay is a good cornerback but, for some reason, he seems to have taken a step back this year. He was beaten multiple times by wide receiver Davante Adams in the Lions matchup against the Green Bay Packers earlier this year and was also beaten for a touchdown by Miami Dolphins wide receiver Kenny Stills. However, with Peterson added to the secondary, the Lions would have two cornerbacks with lockdown potential.

Peterson would also provide the Lions with another return man to work with. Against the Dolphins the main returner was Tate. And I don’t know about the rest of you, but seeing the 30-year old veteran back there returning punts made me nervous. Tate is instrumental in the Lions’ offense and he is subject to further risk of injury the more he drops back to receive punts.

Now, the question on everyone’s mind: How much would Peterson cost the Lions to acquire? Being an All-Pro cornerback, he would not be cheap as the Cardinals would likely not trade Peterson under market value.

For context, let’s look at some more recent trades of upper-tier cornerbacks that have happened around the league. For starters, former Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Marcus Peters was traded to the Los Angeles Rams this past offseason along with a 2018 sixth-round pick in exchange for a 2018 fourth round pick and a 2019 second round pick.

Another trade involving a cornerback was when the Buffalo Bills traded away cornerback Ronald Darby for a 2018 third round pick and wide receiver Jordan Matthews.

Peterson is a better cornerback than both of those two corners and offers more versatility as well. Most likely Detroit would have to part with at least their 2019 second round pick.

But, seeing as how there will most definitely be other teams after Peterson’s services, the Lions would probably need to begin their offer with their 2019 first round pick and change (like two of their late round picks that they have an abundance of) to secure him.

While the price for Patrick Peterson would be high, the Detroit Lions should be willing to move their 2019 first round pick, and say, a fifth-round pick or lower. Peterson is a sure thing as you know you are getting an elite corner and potentially an above average return man. His price will not be cheap but the Lions can, and should, pay it.