The Detroit Lions need more than a running back to be scary

The Detroit Lions did not acquire a running back at the trade deadline, but the truth is that without better defense, they’re not going anywhere anyway.

For the Detroit Lions, the trade deadline came and went without any fanfare. They did not trade away anyone, nor did they acquire any players. No tricks, no treats, no nothing.

This will be considered unsettling for many Lions fans since it seems hard to believe that the team as it is currently put together will be able to make a serious run at the playoffs.

The rumors were out there that general manager Bob Quinn did have some conversations with a few teams about the possibility of sending Darius Slay to a new home, but in the end no one was willing to pay the price, which according to Kevin Patra at NFL.com would take a similar package to what the Rams doled out to get Jalen Ramsey.

That would be two first-round picks as well as a fourth-round selection, for those of you scoring at home. A price tag for a player that is 28 years old, has been injured this season and is on the downside of his skills. Now that’s scary.

Slay is still a good cornerback, but he’s not that good. And I’m not sure if even at the height of his prowess he was worth that kind of a package for his services. No disrespect, but that is an elite asking price that can kill a team’s future if they decide to give up those kinds of draft picks.

As for the Lions, Bob Quinn probably knew no one was going to bite on that kind of an asking price, but if someone had gotten close, it may have been a different story.

Instead, Slay is expected at this point to take the field in Oakland on Sunday and quite frankly the Lions secondary could use his talents. Maybe more than any other team in the league right now if we consider what Daniel Jones of the Giants did to them last weekend.