The Detroit Lions should be actively looking for defensive talent and add a playmaking piece before today’s trade deadline.
The NFL trade deadline is today and the Detroit Lions should be in the mix for a defensive playmaker. The defense has been horrible the past couple of weeks – at least it appears that way. Injuries have played their part, but good teams can push through.
The Lions did find a way to win on Sunday while missing starting cornerback Darius Slay and defensive tackle Mike Daniels, among others. The team did get defensive lineman Da’Shawn Hand back on the field while defensive tackle Damon Harrison has struggled with a groin injury.
The bigger issue is Lions safety Tracy Walker‘s knee injury. The team was down to three healthy safeties after the injury and the trade of Quandre Diggs last week. Suddenly the team is thin at the position, hoping Walker’s injury isn’t too serious.
There’s good news for Walker as MLive’s Kyle Meinke reported he led the team celebration after the victory. Either way, the team could use to add a piece to the defensive backfield before today’s trade deadline, and not send a star away from the team as Meinke also covered head coach Matt Patricia being tight-lipped about the possibility of shipping cornerback Darius Slay out of town.
Despite the look of the defense the past few weeks, they’ve only allowed 236 rushing yards in three games – 80 to the New York Giants, 100 to the Minnesota Vikings and 56 to the Green Bay Packers. But the rush defense isn’t really the problem at this point.
Passing yards have been easy for opponents to find against these Detroit Lions. The last three games look something like this: 322 yards to the Giants, 240 to the Vikings and 277 to the Packers. Slay has been missing for two full games and the pass rush didn’t hit home until the disguised rush and blitzes on Sunday versus rookie quarterback Daniel Jones.
Should the Lions look to shore things up, they would be looking to add a veteran defensive back that could help the team compete this season, not ship away a star and give up on 2019. A few defensive backs named on NFL.com’s rumor mill include familiar names Janoris Jenkins from the Giants and Josh Norman of the Washington Redskins as well as Chris Harris of the Denver Broncos.
The Lions have cap room and can afford the hit these players would bring this season, but what would it take to get them wearing Honolulu Blue? Hopefully not too much. And hopefully the front office takes a hard look at bolstering the back end of this defense. It appears to be a necessity if they want to make a playoff push.