Would the Detroit Lions look to add even more firepower to their defensive line this season? Well, they should consider it if Arizona Cardinals edge rusher Josh Sweat becomes available.
After drafting Derrick Moore and signing DJ Wonnum this offseason, it feels like the team is likely satisfied with how their defensive front has shaped up. Aidan Hutchinson looks like a menace off the edge once again, and their front seven has overall been looking much better than they did in 2025.
So, why should they poke around on the trade market for an additional pass rusher? Well, as the Cincinnati Bengals have proven this season after going out and very aggressively re-doing their defensive line (leading to a top-5 unit in run-stopping this season), it's sometimes worth it to go all-in on that unit.
Lions urged to make a move for Sweat ahead of November trade deadline
FanSided's Zachary Rotman recently penned an article with 10 potential trade candidates across the NFL, naming the Lions as a suitor for Sweat if he were to become available:
"Not only is Sweat a great player who had 12.0 sacks in 2025, but he also isn't owed much money this season and is owed zero guaranteed dollars in 2027, making him an easy contract to absorb for any contender. Ultimately, Sweat is 29 years old and likely won't be in Arizona when they're competitive. Why not get a haul for him now, when the team is likely to be bad, rather than risk his value plummeting down the line?"
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The affordability aspect to his potential acquisition makes it feel like a likelier move for the Lions. Detroit has been aiming to keep as much flexibility financially as possible, with extensions due up for Sam LaPorta and Brian Branch. They're working with just over $37 million in cap space right now, which is more than enough space to absorb Sweat's current $16.3 million cap hit.
This would be a rental situation, most likely, which could be appealing to Detroit if their defensive line continues to be good, not great. Adding a starter like Sweat would create quite the D-line for the Lions to work with, although that's the least of their problems on defense. Finding a pass defender should be their first priority ahead of the deadline.
The Lions have so far allowed 621 passing yards, 7.6 yards per passing attempt, and far too many explosive plays in the air. Edge rusher just feels like a bit of an off-target idea.
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