When talking about what the Detroit Lions might give up if they make a trade before the Nov. 5 deadline, future draft picks are the focus. But there is a player who could garner interest on the trade market, if his value can be boosted.
James Houston barely made the Lions' 53-man roster out of training camp. Then he was a healthy scratch for two of the first three games this season, playing three snaps in the one he played. Opportunity knocked in Week 4, after Marcus Davenport was lost for the season in Week 3, and Houston was awful.
In what could've been looked at as his last chance with the Lions last Sunday, with Aidan Hutchinson out, Houston played nine defensive snaps against the Minnesota Vikings. Pro Football Focus credited him with two pressures on eight pass rush snaps and gave him a 48.1 pass rushing grade.
So it seems the internal search for viable edge rusher help is ongoing, and Dan Campbell confirmed that on Wednesday.
Dan Campbell says they're still willing to give some of their own guys a shot at EDGE, including Isaiah Thomas and Al-Quadin Muhammad
— Pride of Detroit (@PrideOfDetroit) October 23, 2024
Lions have possible opportunity to showcase James Houston for a trade on Sunday
As part of ESPN.com's look at the trade deadline for each NFL team, Lions' reporter Eric Woodyard had Houston as the answer to "Who could be on the move?"
"After a spectacular rookie season in 2022, when he registered eight sacks (second among all NFL rookies behind only Hutchinson), he missed most of 2023. He narrowly made the 53-man roster on a revamped Lions defense this season and was inactive for three of their first six games. A sixth-round pick out of Jackson State, Houston could benefit from a change of scenery."
Campbell has continually talked about Houston like he's a non-entity. It still feels like a "fight" with general manager Brad Holmes was lost over keeping Houston on the initial 53-man roster. Such as another team might buy into the potential Houston showed late in his rookie season (eight sacks in seven games), he's a potential trade asset.
On FanDuel Sportsbook, the Lions are currently 10.5-point favorites over the Tennessee Titans in Week 8 (odds subject to change). They're likely going with Mason Rudolph as their starting quarterback over an injured Will Levis again, and they traded wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins on Wednesday.
In simple terms, the Lions should have no trouble with the Titans on Sunday. Winning by the kind of margin they should be would open the door to players who don't usually play a lot getting an opportunity late in the game. Players like Houston, with the added layer of being able to specifically showcase him for a trade.
The Lions have little use for him, and Houston needs a change of scenery. Ideally, the circumstance of Sunday's game will push the relationship toward its end by allowing him to play a lot, perform well (hopefully) and create trade value that probably doesn't exist right now.