Analyst proposes the kind of all-in trade Lions' fans have been begging for

For the first time since 2022, the Detroit Lions will be watching the playoffs from home. Things aligned in such a way that repeating 2024's 15-win campaign was never likely, but missing the postseason entirely lands as a significant disappointment.

Head coach Dan Campbell has already promised a look at "everything" when the season is over. He and general manager Brad Holmes have been firmly aligned with a plan that worked to build the Lions from laughingstock to contender, but the next step has proved elusive and the next phase has prioritize getting that done.

Campbell and Holmes have also, right or wrong, rarely make bold moves.

When Campbell had to replace both his coordinators last offseason, he made an internal hire and brought back a coach who was on his staff in 2022. Holmes likes to lament the difficulty of making notable moves when questioned about it, as if he's the only general manager who has that challenge.

What the 2025 season has proven unequivocally is the status quo is not good enough if the Lions are going to be a legit Super Bowl contender. Whatever it ends up looking like, via changes to the roster and/or the coaching staff, Holmes and Campbell must extend out of their comfort zone a little bit. Or the "Super Bowl window" Holmes firmy denies they are in, whenever the topic comes up, will be closed.

Analyst offers all-in trade the Lions can actually get done if they want to

The Lions can be thankful they are no longer in the same category of sadsack NFL franchises as the Las Vegas Raiders. As they pursue the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 draft, the Raiders shut down star defensive end Maxx Crosby, and they appear to have finally alienated him enough that his loyalty may be eroding.

Crosby will be 29 years old before next season starts. To put it simply, his career timeline is absolutely no longer aligned with where the Raiders are. They look to be at least a couple years away from being a contender, and if that's the case Crosby would waste even more of his career on a losing team.

Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report included the Lions on his list of five teams who could rescue Crosby from the Raiders with an offseason trade. How the five-time Pro Bowler would fit in the Detroit defense is obvious enough to not be worth repeating, so the idea of trading for him comes down to what the Lions would give up.

Here's Knox's trade proposal to bring Crosby to Detroit.

"2026 1st-round pick, 2026 5th-round pick, 2027 1st-round pick, 2027 4th-round pick"

Two first-round picks would likely be the minimum requirement to acquire Crosby. The Lions' 2026 first-round pick is set to land between 14th and 18th overall depending on Week 18's results. If they get back into the upper tier of the NFC next season, the 2027 first-rounder would be in mid-to-late 20s. The two Day 3 draft picks are fairly inconsequential, with the total of four picks in the proposal aligned with an idea of not sending a player to the Raiders.

READ MORE: Lions draft bust may be playing his last snap in Detroit in Week 18

Crosby signed a three-year, $106.5 million contract extension with the Raiders last March. But as outlined by Michael Ginnitti of Spotrac, that contract is as tradeable, and acquirable, as a contract of that magnitude can get.

Any team with interest in Crosby, narrowed to the Lions and teams of their ilk of course, should have no trouble committing $59 million in guaranteed salary to him between 2026 and 2027. He has an additional total of $782,000 tied to per-game active roster bonuses each year ($46,000 per game).

Crosby is a native of Lapeer, Michigan and an Eastern Michigan alum. Almost two years ago on his podcast, he said if he could play for a team other than the Raiders it'd be the Lions.

If (when?) Holmes is asked about the idea of a bold offseason move during his season-ending press conference, we can predict what he'll say. But all the previous excuses about financial affordability don't really hold up in regard to Crosby. And after a non-playoff season, in a window where you are supposed to be a perennial Super Bowl contender, the previous sacred holding of draft capital no longer applies.