5 players the Detroit Lions could trade during draft season
The Detroit Lions did pretty well in 2024 free agency, filling holes, replacing those who departed for t the most part and re-signing a fair chunk of players. General manager Brad Holmes has made it clear he sees free agency as the way to plug holes, with the draft about acquiring talent without being beholden to needs.
After the trade to acquire cornerback Carlton Davis, the Lions still have seven picks in the 2024 draft. But they also have a more significant gap between picks, from pick No. 73 (third round) all the way to pick No. 164 (fifth round). So it feels like Holmes will try to fill that gap, via moving around the board if it makes sense, or maybe trading a player for an extra pick later on Day 2 or early on Day 3. Adding future picks in a trade would be possible (if not likely) too.
On the "trade a player" front, these five Lions could be on the trade block during draft season.
5 Detroit Lions who could be traded during draft season
5. TE James Mitchell
Mitchell was coming off a torn ACL when the Lions took him in the fifth round of the 2022 draft, so his rookie season became a developmental mulligan (11 catches over 14 games, 183 offensive snaps). Any buzz about a second-year breakout was put to bed when Sam LaPorta was drafted, but it felt like Mitchell shouldn't have a lot of trouble taking some snaps from No. 2 tight end Brock Wright.
Mitchell played in 15 games last season, but he played less than he did as a rookie (157 offensive snaps) and had just two catches for 28 yards. The Lions matched the offer sheet Wright got from the 49ers, and they re-signed Shane Zylstra before free agency.
At this point, albeit here in April before the draft, Mitchell looks like the No. 4 tight end for the Lions and his spot on the 53-man roster feels tenuous. Taking a tight end on Day 3 of the draft is not totally out of the question, as outlined by Justin Rogers of the Detroit News, which would be a clear sign Mitchell is not locked into a roster spot. It's possible another team, looking to take a flier on a depth player with potential, would part with a conditional draft pick to take him off their hands.
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