NFL rumors: Should the Lions pursue Kareem Hunt?

Kareem Hunt may be available for the right price, so should the Detroit Lions consider a deal to add him to their running back stable?

Kareem Hunt staged a brief “hold-in'”, as he seeks a new contract from the Cleveland Browns or otherwise wants to be traded. The Browns don’t seem at all inclined to trade him, and he returned to full practice participation at training camp on Monday.

The Browns certainly don’t want to remove any offensive weapons from their equation, with quarterback Deshaun Watson facing at least a six-game suspension. And it seems unlikely another team would make them a satisfactory trade offer for Hunt anyway, unless they were forced into a level of desperation by an injury to their projected No. 1 back.

When practically any talented player is available, even if only in theory, the Detroit Lions are too easily mentioned. If only on a speculative talking point note, a couple local outlets have discussed the topic of the Lions pursuing Hunt.

NFL rumors: The Lions don’t need Kareem Hunt

Any list of the strongest position groups the Lions have would have the running backs pretty high, perhaps only below the offensive line. D’Andre Swift has star potential, and Jamaal Williams is a solid No. 2 (or 1A, for some). No. 3 running back Craig Reynolds is well-regarded in the building as well.

An injury to Swift or Williams, especiallly Swift, between now and Week 1 would possibly open the door to a notable running back addition. But the Lions are carefully managing Swift’s workload during training camp, and it feels likely he does not play at all in preseason games. He’s simply not at great risk to suffer a major injury before the season starts.

Even with the idea an injury would thin the running back depth chart in the next few weeks, the Lions made an interesting addition in former Charger Justin Jackson last week.

Terry Foster and Adham Beydoun of Woodward Sports and Christian Booher of SI.com reached the same, obvious conclusion. Hunt is an interesting name, possibly worth kicking the tires on as Foster said, but he’s ultimately not a fit for the Lions in any way, shape or form.

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