After a difficult Week 9 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, the Detroit Lions are left questioning everything. It was just one game, but it was a game the Lions knew they could win.
Not only did the Lions drop the game to Minnesota, though, but they just watched another NFC contender snatch the perfect trade target from beneath their eyes. The Philadelphia Eagles pulled off a deal to land Miami Dolphins pass rusher Jaelan Phillips for a third-round pick, and they even convinced the Dolphins to pay a portion of his remaining salary.
The Lions weren't necessarily desperate to add a pass rusher opposite Aidan Hutchinson, but it was certainly on fans' minds and very well still could be a possibility before the deadline passes. But now, the Lions will have to look at other options.
The Lions missed out on a perfect trade deadline opportunity
Phillips was the perfect one-year rental for the Lions, considering he was on the final year of his rookie contract. Now, a third-round pick for a one-year rental seems like a steep price to pay. But, if the Lions started doing what the Eagles did, then draft capital would simply become more of a luxury.
The Eagles have become excellent at swinging deals for players and then obtaining compensatory picks for them, which is exactly what the Lions could have ended up doing with a player like Phillips.
A third-round pick for Phillips wouldn't have seemed all that bad if he went on to sign a massive deal next offseason, and then Detroit was able to fetch a third or fourth-round compensatory pick in exchange.
Detroit is second in the NFL in sacks, as a team, with 28. They were able to sack JJ McCarthy five times in the loss on Sunday, so again, this isn't a desperation ploy. But, fans have long wondered what another prolific pass rusher would look like next to Hutchinson.
Maybe, next year's draft is the place to find one and that way, the Lions get one on an entire rookie contract.
Still, the Eagles continue to prove they're a well-oiled machine when it comes to how they do business. And now, the Lions will have to look at other options before the deadline passes on Tuesday afternoon.
Other options potentially include: Bradley Chubb, Kayvon Thibodeaux, Trey Hendrickson or Arden Key. The first three listed are sure to be more costly than Key, so take that for what it's worth.