We are about hit the NFL trade deadline on November 4, and it's becoming pretty clear that the Detroit Lions aren't going to be doing much moving ahead of that day. They had always viewed the players injured headed into this season as players that could act as acquisitions throughout the year to help out at problem areas, like at pass rusher and cornerback.
With D.J. Reed, Terrion Arnold, and Marcus Davenport set to return in November and December, and linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez already preparing to return to practice ahead of Week 9, the team is about to have quite the defensive unit healthy and ready to make a postseason push. That's without blinking at the deadline, too.
Still, there are a few targets the Lions should be taking a peek at that could be a lot cheaper than players like Trey Hendrickson or Maxx Crosby.
3 targets the Lions should look at ahead of Nov. 4 trade deadline
EDGE Arden Key
Key, a 29 year old linebacker for the Tennessee Titans, might be on the trade block with the Titans having quite the ghastly start to their 2025 campaign. He's got 1.5 sacks and just two solo tackles so far this season, and he's on an expiring deal that leaves him in no man's land amongst the Titans' depth.
With a disappointing year under his belt so far, Key can likely be had for a very low cost to the Lions. For simply depth reasons, Key could be a valuable addition. However, the Lions might feel good enough with the play they saw from players like Tyrus Wheat and Derrick Barnes in Week 7 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
CB Riq Woolen
Another player struggling to begin this year is cornerback Riq Woolen. The Seattle Seahawks defender has taken a backseat since the return of Devon Witherspoon, and he hasn't looked quite like the complete defender he did in his earlier years with the team. Woolen would add valuable depth behind Arnold and Reed on the Lions, and wouldn't cost a ton of the Lions' draft pick pool.
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Woolen is also a free agent in 2026, so he'd be another one-year rental for Detroit. This is good for the team as their trying to remain as flexible as possible before having to pay Brian Branch, Jahmyr Gibbs, Jack Campbell, and other core pieces of the team.
CB Michael Carter II
While the Lions should be also targeting a left tackle at the deadline, there aren't many that seem to be available on the market. So, we are steering again towards a cheaper defensive option for them on the market, and here, we see them going for cornerback Michael Carter II. The New York Jets defender has been a key piece to their strong defense for a few years, and he has two pass breakups and nine solo tackles on the year.
Carter carries a cap hit of $12.25 million headed into 2026, which might make the Lions steer clear of looking to snag someone from under former defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn. But, Carter is definitely a culture fit for Detroit. He's a solid backup to Reed, a former teammate, and he could likely be had for a low price considering he's also been struggling in 2025 so far.