As the trade deadline approaches soon, these four Detroit Lions could be on the move.
The Detroit Lions dropped to 1-5 this season with Sunday’s loss to the Dallas Cowboys, a game that was closer than the 24-6 score suggests. If the next NFL Draft were this week, they’d be picking first overall.
At a certain point, facing the distinct possibility of a 1-7 record with the Miami Dolphins and Green Bay Packers (albeit both at home) coming, the Lions have to assess themselves as trade deadline sellers. The trade deadline comes after next Sunday’s game, on Tuesday, Nov. 1, so decisions on trading players could be on an urgent docket.
An outright fire sale in Detroit feels unlikely, if only because there are few veteran players who would be firmly on the trade block–even on a 1-5 team.
With offers possibly coming in over the next 15 days, these four Detroit Lions could be on the move before the NFL trade deadline.
4 Detroit Lions players who could be traded before the deadline
4. RB D’Andre Swift
With the news he would miss another game against the Cowboys in Week 7 due to ankle and shoulder issues, and the posting of said news on the page, there was a sentiment from Lions’ fans on the SideLion Report Facebook page to trade Swift.
As easy as it is to dismiss on the surface, the idea of trading Swift at least deserves closer examination.
A second-round pick in 2020, Swift is in the third year of a four-year rookie contract. The Lions have a decision looming on whether to keep him long-term or not. If the best ability is availability, even within the idea he isn’t missing time with minor issues, he has not measured up, now into his third season.
Swift won’t turn 24 until January, so in theory he has some good years left before his shelf life as an NFL running back expires. If other teams think they can figure out why he’s had trouble staying on the field with the Lions, as much as that could even be found out, a trade offer or two could come. He may be able to play in Week 8 against the Miami Dolphins, but it’s easy to be skeptical about that right up until inactives are declared next Sunday.
If Brad Holmes gets an offer he can’t refuse for Swift, say a couple draft picks in Day 2/early Day 3 range, would he turn it down?
3. RB Jamaal Williams
Put this one very deep in the “unlikely, but possible” column. Williams is in the final year of his two-year deal with the Lions, and it feels like no better than a coin-flip chance he’ll be brought back for 2023 or beyond. Detroit’s running back depth chart could be reset around Swift next year (assuming he’s not traded), with a different veteran signed and a future replacement taken within the first 2-3 rounds of the draft next April.
Williams is on a cheap enough contract to possibly appeal to a contending team, as an experienced and capable addition to their backfield. His future in Detroit beyond this season is unclear at best, so in that light he’s a trade candidate should there be anyone interested.
2. C/OG Evan Brown
Brown was a very capable fill-in for center Frank Ragnow last year. This year he has moved over to start a couple games at right guard for the Lions, with Halapoulivaati Vaitai (back) on IR. In Week 7 against Dallas, he was the highest-graded Lions’ offensive lineman by Pro Football Focus (72.9 overall grade).
Brown’s ability to play at least two interior offensive line spots very capably invites possible interest from contending teams.
1. DT Michael Brockers
The Lions acquired Brockers in March of 2021, as general manager Brad Holmes leaned into is Rams’ history with another deal after the Matthew Stafford trade. He was acquired on the idea he’d bring veteran leadership to a young team, and be somewhat of a force on the interior defensive line. His contract was promptly torn up/extended.
The Lions traded for Michael Brockers last season, ripped up his contract and gave him a new three-year, $24 million deal that included $11 million in new guarantees. Since then, he has 2 quarterback hits in 21 starts.
— kyle meinke (@kmeinke) October 23, 2022
Since then, Brockers has not delivered on the field for the Lions at all (one sack in 21 games). Not working next to Aaron Donald in Los Angeles anymore has exposed him as an aging player with little to offer (who knew?). He has been rightly losing snaps this season, as he also did as last season went on. Against the Cowboys in Week 7, he was a healthy scratch.
The idea the Lions could or should trade Brockers is not a fresh one. Based simply on wanting to play, and not so much in line to become a serious distraction, he may not be happy about being a healthy scratch. An outright release is unlikely, unless Brockers goes against his grain and becomes outwardly disgruntled. He could simply ask for his release if he’s going to continue not to play though, and the Lions could do him a solid there.
Brockers’ trade value is obviously not great. But it’s worth wondering if he would naturally be better playing on a better defense again, and if other teams believe that.
Even if all that can be gotten in a trade is a conditional late-round pick at some point in the next couple weeks, the Lions should take it and send Brockers on his way to a situation that will hopefully suit him better.
Other Lions who could be moved before the trade deadline: CB Amani Oruwariye, LB Alex Anzalone, CB Mike Hughes