The NFL trade deadline has come and gone, and with it was no significant upgrade on defense for the Detroit Lions.
No disrespect to safety Andre Cisco, who was acquired from the New York Jets Monday for a sixth round pick. He’ll be a good player to have in that safety room, especially if Kerby Joseph’s return from injury doesn’t go swimmingly.
But for a team that is 6-2 and deadlocked in one of the most competitive division races in NFL history, it was fair to expect more. Cisco was the only player the Lions acquired via trade this deadline cycle.
The Lions defense may be playing better right now, but the three-game sample size where they held opponents under 20 points is not enough to make us forget what we saw during the first four games of the season—- the very worst defense in the NFL.
Lions' currently-soaring defense might not be sustainable
Joseph and Brian Branch’s return to the safety room are substantial reinforcements, but this unit needed more than its two safeties returning. Plus, you’d be forgiven for still being skeptical that Joseph is actually going to come back and be an impact player the rest of the season.
The cornerback room could have really used another guy. DJ Reed has turned it around and been awesome in the last few games when given the opportunity to play more man coverage, his specialty, and was Pro Football Focus’ No. 1 graded player at his position from Week 6 to Week 8.
But Reed missed Week 9’s game against the Miami Dolphins with a hip injury, and head coach Dan Campbell wasn’t sure about his availability for Sunday’s game in Germany against the New England Patriots this week.
“Yeah, hard to say,” he said when asked about Reed and edge DJ Wonnum’s status for Germany. “It really is. I mean, they've improved from last week. The question is, can we get them there in time? And I don't have that answer right now.”
Beside Reed, there are serious questions. Ennis Rakestraw Jr., Roger McCreary and Rock Ya-Sin have each rotated in as Detroit’s No. 2 outside cornerback. None have played very well or taken command of the job. If you have three No. 2 corners, do you even have one? The Lions’ second cornerback situation is arguably the biggest weakness on what is otherwise a very talented roster.
In a division with Matthew Golden, Rome Odunze and Jordan Addison as their teams’ respective second-best receivers, is that really a weakness you can afford to have? Especially after the Vikings might have competent quarterback play now?
Now, let’s be fair to general manager Brad Holmes. Aside from Joey Porter Jr., who was moved over a month ago, there were no cornerbacks traded this season. Players dubbed as trade candidates like the Eagles’ Riq Woolen or the Jets’ Nashon Wright stayed put. Clearly teams wanted to hold on to who they had at one of the league’s most valuable positions.
The Lions also seem to like what they have, for better or worse.
“Our unit is playing uh pretty good football right now,” Campbell said. “Our DBs are getting after it, man. They're playing good football.”
And besides, only 15 teams acquired players around the trade deadline, and the Lions were one of them. It’s not like Holmes did absolutely nothing. He got a depth safety!
But cornerback wasn’t the only need on this defense. Linebacker Jack Campbell is, in all likelihood, out for the season after his scary neck injury suffered against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 8. Rookie Jimmy Rolder was showing promise but was himself lost for the season in that same game.
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Detroit seems set to roll with the trio of Derrick Barnes, Malcolm Rodriguez and Trevor Nowaske the rest of the season. That’s not a bad setup by any means, and Rodriguez has been especially impactful this year. But another player who can help fit the run and take away throwing lanes over the middle would have been really nice to have on this team.
Maybe this Lions defense really has turned a corner, and will play with a renewed sense of fire and energy in honor of Jack Campbell, their captain. Maybe Reed is back to being a top cornerback in the NFL, and one of Rakestraw, McCreary or Ya-Sin proves they’re a starter in this league too.
Maybe Branch and Joseph are back to being the best safety duo in football. Maybe Detroit’s productive pass rush gives this defense a level of disruption that can mask its shortcomings and injuries in the secondary. Maybe defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard positions himself as a future head coach with his performance in the second half of the season.
Sorry for the repetition, but that is a lot of “maybes,” and the Lions had a chance to make their defense more of a sure thing with some deadline additions. Campbell and Holmes will probably give the whole spiel about how it takes two to tango in trade negotiations, and they couldn’t find anyone they liked at the right price, save from Cisco.
But this Lions core isn’t getting any younger, and this division isn’t getting any easier. Plus, with this team’s history, we can probably bet on multiple key starters landing on injured reserve at some point soon. Detroit’s deadline inactivity is a big bet on itself at best, and could be a season-killing inaction at worst.
We’ll just have to see. They’ve got who they’ve got.
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