It's late-June, and for those of who cover the NFL it can be a struggle to put out interesting content. But there's also a line between offering up ideas that at least can be made to make sense, and getting into ludicrous territory even if you're offering hypotheticals.
In some sense, the safety position could still be considered a need for the Lions. Depth, in terms of snaps played last season, is a potential concern. But the idea Brian Branch is in line for more snaps at safety diminishes the overall idea of adding a safety.
Still, Bleacher Report has persistently hammered the idea the Lions should trade for Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker. It seems the Cardinals are not going to trade the six-time Pro Bowler for anything less than a unreal offer, and such as he'd be given a say in where he was traded he'd probably like to move right into a starting spot. The Lions don't have that available, unless Kerby Joseph is slower than expected to recover from offseason hip surgery or Ifeatu Melifonwu is injured.
Bleacher Report takes idea Lions should trade for Budda Baker to ludicrous level
Bleacher Report's Kristopher Knox has offered up "Hypothetical 3-Team Trades That Would Turn The NFL Upside Down Before the 2024 Season." "Hypothetical" is an important caveat to note and keep in mind, since three-team trades don't really happen in the NFL. Knox noted that, while offering these final thoughts before diving in.
"Though largely a thought exercise, these trades will be grounded in reality. Factors like player production, positional value, franchise trajectory, cap space and draft capital were all considered.
Check this one out involving the Lions.
Cardinals Get: WR Brandin Cooks, Lions' 2025 fifth-round pick, Cowboys' 2025 third-round pick
Cowboys Get: WR Donovan Peoples-Jones, RB Craig Reynolds, QB Hendon Hooker, Lions 2026 third-round pick
Lions Get: S Budda Baker
So let's review what the Lions would give up in this hypothetical deal, which seems very beneficial for the Cowboys based on Knox's own analysis of it. The Cardinals even get two draft picks and a productive veteran wide receiver.
-Two draft picks, including one in the top-100 overall.
-Peoples-Jones, their current No. 3 or No. 4 wide receiver who they clearly think a lot of right now.
-Reynolds, their current No. 3 running back who may end no worse than No. 4 on the depth chart.
-Hooker, who is in line to be Jared Goff's primary backup. Yes, his future in Detroit is up in the air due to Goff's new contract and there may be a time to trade Hooker. But it isn't right now, before he's even played in a preseason game.
Peoples-Jones and Reynolds could be regarded as inconsequential depth players, and there's a non-zero chance Reynolds becomes some level of trade bait before the season starts. Moving both in the same "hypothetical" deal, whatever the return is, is at minimum lame.
If things go a specific way (Joseph's hip surgery recovery is slow; Melifonwu gets hurt), it's possible the Lions consider trading for Baker or acquiring a safety of a similar ilk before Week 1. Bleacher Report is trying hard to manifest Baker to the Lions without that full context, and it's now reached a ridiculous level.