The Detroit Lions, as many fans could've predicted, have a pass rushing problem.
Looking at the numbers over their first two games of the season, it's obvious that they struggled mightily against a contending offensive line in Green Bay, and that they dominated a weak O-line featured by Chicago.
It's good, not great, for Detroit's defense to see these early returns. Not exactly groundbreaking, and not inspiring for a team that just claimed they were "good" on Za'Darius Smith in free agency.
The team is now towards the bottom of the pack on pressures generated through two weeks of action, which is something that not even four sacks generated against the Bears can rectify. Bottom line: the Lions aren't getting to the quarterback efficiently or often enough, and they're allowing an average of about three seconds of time per throw.
After a potentially concerning injury to Marcus Davenport - suffered on a sack, no less - it's obvious that the team has to consider other options at the pass rush before they are relying too heavily on Al-Quadin Muhammad, Pat O'Connor, or Mekhi Wingo to replicate his potential production. Here's how the Lions can rectify their oversight at the pass rush on the trade market.
Lions can make a trade for pass rush help before it's too late
Micah Parsons is off the trade market, T.J. Watt and Myles Garrett have already been extended, and Detroit has to wait until next year to test the waters on Trey Hendrickson if they're interested in his services. Some other trade market options include Brian Burns from the New York Giants, or Chop Robinson and Bradley Chubb from the crashing Miami Dolphins.
These teams are ideal trade partners for two reasons: both are on track for pretty bad seasons, and they're out of the division. This makes it a bit easier for Detroit to swoop in with an offer that features a prime future draft pick for two teams seeking to continue a rebuild. Miami more so fits this bill, as New York has stocked away some incredibly solid young talent in the draft over the last two seasons.
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Green Bay had to part with two first rounders for Parsons services, but luckily for the Lions, basically no one aside from Aidan Hutchinson, or Myles Garrett, could warrant that type of payout. They also had to deal Kenny Clark, and maybe Miami would ask Detroit for a player like Wingo, Tyler Lacy, or even Muhammad.
As of now, the Lions own a first and second round pick as well as two third rounders (one via Jacksonville Jaguars thanks to trade for Isaac TeSlaa, and one awarded by the league) to work with from next year's pool if they wanted to offer high-level draft compensation to Miami, or any other team, for a pass rusher.
As Muhammad's role is expanding, perhaps the team won't need to make any big moves on the market ahead of the deadline on November 4. But, if they want a true EDGE on the line to replace Davenport, the trade market is Detroit's only hope for an immediate solution - and it'll cost them. That's the price of waiting far too long to make a decision on Smith.