Detroit Lions trade rumors: 4 teams who could make an offer for Julian Okwara
Sometimes, a trail of bread crumbs leads a piece of bread, where there's smoke there's fire,...whatever cliche you'd like to use. On that note, the trade speculation around Detroit Lions linebacker/edge rusher Julian Okwara is ramping up.
After the first preseason game against the New York Giants, it was The Athletic's Colton Pouncy who suggested Okwara could fetch a late-round pick in a trade. After the second preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, it was Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press who pointed to the possibility Okwara could be dealt.
Then, NFL writer Cam Marino dropped an indication from "sources" that Okwara to the Giants is a trade possibility to watch. Okwara had three sacks against the Giants in the aforementioned preseason opener, so their interest makes sense in that vacuum.
Okwara flashed his potential with five sacks in 2021, including two in Week 18 against the Green Bay Packers. But he was not able to carry that momentum into last season, as an elbow injury on Thanksgiving Day cost him the rest of the season and left him with two sacks (both in the same game) over 10 games.
Before the first preseason game, Dan Campbell called Okwara out as a "flash player" who "kind of reverts back at times." And after that impressive showing, Okwara promptly delivered a dud against the Jaguars.
But there's always some kind of market for those who can get after the quarterback, and Okwara is probably on the outside looking in for the Lions' 53-man roster right now. So teams could be calling about him.
On that note, here are four teams who could make the Lions a suitable offer for Okwara.