We're now in the home stretch before the NFL trade deadline next Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET. Eyes are on the Detroit Lions and an easily presumed necessary move to acquire an edge rusher to help fill the void left by Aidan Hutchinson's absence.
Earlier this week, Dan Campbell trolled fans a bit by saying a trade "could be" coming in the next 24 hours. The next day he downplayed the meaning of that display at the podium, while also (obviously) acknowledging that possibilities were still being looked into.
There's a chance the Lions do nothing on the trade front, which would be disappointing with a need that seems so clear.
On Thursday's edition of "Get Up", ESPN's Adam Schefter was asked if he thinks the Lions will add an edge rusher before the deadline. He not only thinks they will, he named a couple names.
Adam Schefter names names of edge rushers Lions could trade for
“Yes, I do think you’re going to see that. You saw Dan Campbell get all fired up. He looked like the cat who ate the canary. They don’t have a deal done yet, but there are a couple of pass rushers out there right now: Za’Darius Smith, Azeez Ojulari in New York. There are a couple of guys that make a lot of sense for the Lions, and if you are this close and this good, why are you not willing to part with some mid-round pick to get in some kind of reinforcement to hold down the fort so Aidan Hutchinson can make it back for the Super Bowl, if you make it that far?”
Schefter was not reporting anything, he was offering a opinion when asked a question-however informed that opinion might be. Smith is obviously not a fresh name being tied to the Lions in trade speculation, and while not quite to the same extent neither is Ojulari.
Ojulari has six sacks and 19 pressures through eight games this season, He is also a young player (24 years old), and theoretically a potential long-term piece for a team that may acquire him. He's more of a SAM linebacker by physical profile (240 pounds), but a massive wingspan (82.5 inches) defies that frame.
Schefter noted the obvious that the Lions "don't have a deal done yet", but all signs say they are looking. It may just be a matter of who they hone in on, then when a trade gets done before next Tuesday afternoon.