As the NFL trade deadline gets ever closer, the focus when it comes to the Detroit Lions is on one position: edge rusher. There's no replacing the injured Aidan Hutchinson, but the initial plan to replace him internally hasn't been very inspiring. The idea Hutchinson could return for the Super Bowl feels like it'll be rendered moot if a more proven edge rusher commodity isn't acquired.
As part of their list comprised of one trade each NFL team should make before next Tuesday's deadline, Matt Verderame of SI.com had the Cleveland Browns sending edge rusher Za'Darius Smith to the Lions for a conditional third-round pick. That's fairly low-hanging fruit with all the reports tying the Lions to interest to Smith.
But that's the trade Verderame had for the Browns as he did the AFC side. So what about the trade the Lions "should" make before the deadline, per SI's Gilbert Manzano on the NFC side of the trade article?
Grade the trade idea: Lions go in whole different direction at the deadline
Manzano thinks the Lions should call the Las Vegas Raiders.....about cornerback Jack Jones, and trade a sixth-round pick for him.
"Raiders owner Mark Davis has said Maxx Crosby isn’t for sale, but the Lions should still call anyway. If they don’t budge on Crosby, perhaps the Lions can convince the Raiders to give up Jones, a feisty cornerback. The Lions’ defense would be set for the postseason if they land Jones and Za’Darius Smith, as mentioned above for the Browns’ one trade they need to make. Jones would provide depth for a disappointing group of cornerbacks. But there’s some risk because Jones tends to make head-scratching mistakes. Perhaps Jones will provide full effort and return to making impact plays with a change of scenery."
Cornerback doesn't land as a clear-cut need for the Lions. But they are still a bottom-10 pass defense by yardage allowed through eight weeks this season, despite having arguably the top safety tandem in the league that has combined for nine interceptions (Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph). "Disappointing" is a big word to describe the group of Lions' corners right now, but none of them have an interception this season.
Pertaining to Jones specifically, if we entertain the idea the Lions could use help at cornerback, it's hard to see how he'd be helpful. He's Pro Football Focus' No. 86 overall-graded cornerback this season entering Week 9, with zero interceptions and six pass breakups. Among Lions' cornerbacks, Carlton Davis (No. 64) and Amik Robertson (No. 72) have higher overall PFF grades and they both have top-12 run defense grades at the position.
The sentiment that Jones may "provide full effort" with a change of scenery is an automatic red flag. It would also surely scratch him off any list of players the Lions would consider trading for, if they're even looking to acquire a cornerback.
The premise the Lions could use a little help at cornerback is one thing. A case could be made for that, and the right player in the right role may make sense.
But if there are even vague questions about Jones' focus and effort level, he would not fit with the culture in Detroit. So a positional need premise, that seems like a bit of a stretch anyway, loses it completely with this specific player.