Detroit Lions trade rumors: 5 pass rushers to watch at NFL deadline 2024

Posted by Admin November 4, 2024 NFL

The Detroit Lions took care of business on the gridiron on Sunday and now the focus shifts to trade talks before Tuesday.

The Lions are in the market to add to their contending-level roster before the NFL’s mid-season trade deadline on Tuesday afternoon. Detroit has until 4 p.m. to make a move for a player currently on another NFL roster to add pieces for the stretch run.

Detroit is shopping in the edge rusher aisle at this deadline. The Lions lost star pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson to a broken leg in the middle of October, and before that, lost free agent signing Marcus Davenport to a torn pectoral muscle, on-ball linebacker Derrick Barnes to a knee injury and lineman Josh Cominsky has been out since hurting his knee at the start of training camp.

Defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn has had to get creative moving players around on the defensive line and increasing the amount of blitzes to bring pressure, but Detroit only has five sacks in the three games without Hutchinson, who led the NFL with 7½ sacks before getting hurt. The Lions have gotten contributions from Josh Paschal, Levi Onwuzurike, Trevor Nowaske, Isaiah Thomas, James Houston and Al-Quadin Muhammad, but want more juice off the edge.

The trade market for pass rushers has been somewhat stagnant so far. The Kansas City Chiefs acquired Josh Uche from the New England Patriots and the Broncos sent outside linebacker Baron Browning to the Arizona Cardinals in exchange for a sixth-round pick.

National insiders expect the talks to accelerate ahead of Tuesday’s deadline, and the Lions are confirmed to be in talks with other teams. There are not a lot of names reportedly on the market, and Detroit is competing with other contenders to add pass rush help.

Here’s a look at a few pass rushers from teams that could be compelled to sell after another loss on Sunday dropped their teams even further out of playoff consideration.

When is the 2024 NFL trade deadline?

The NFL trade deadline is at 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday. Teams will not be able to trade with each other until the new NFL season begins in March 2025. Players who are removed from a roster after the deadline with less than four years of service time are subject to waivers for the rest of the league; other players become free agents immediately.

Lions trade rumors: Latest updates

Cleveland Browns DE Za’Darius Smith

Smith is the most realistic name linked to Detroit at the deadline.

Smith, 32, has five sacks for a 2-7 Cleveland Browns squad that has already unloaded receiver Amari Cooper. Smith has one year remaining on his deal after 2024. He has Pro Bowl credentials and experience playing in the NFC North as a power rusher. NBC Sports reported Sunday a Lions deal for Smith was imminent. The report was released after the Browns fell into a 20-3 deficit in their loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Monday afternoon on “The Pat McAfee Show,” said he thought the Lions and Browns will ultimately figure out a way to get it done, but cautioned “things change, you never know. But I think that there have have been enough conversations.”

“Do I think the Lions and Browns have had significant talks, yeah,” Schefter began. “Do I think they have agreed on compensation, no, I think they’re still arguing about that. Could there be another that steps in and offers, yes.”

New York Giants LB Azeez Ojulari

The Giants could also be in sell mode after dropping to 2-7 on Sunday. Ojulari, a 2020 second-round pick by New York, has had his name floated as a trade chip, and did not confirm nor deny any trade speculation after the loss to the Commanders on Sunday. Ojulari, 24, has six sacks, seven tackles for loss and 26 total tackles in nine games this season as an off-ball linebacker in a 3-4 scheme.

Tennessee Titans LB Arden Key

The Lions got a good look at Key a week ago, when the on-ball linebacker finished with two sacks in the first half of the Lions’ 52-14 win over Tennessee. Key’s name has been linked as a potential trade piece over the past few weeks, and the Titans (2-6) are far away from any sort of contention despite beating the Patriots on Sunday, and should be in the market of trying to build future assets. Key, 28 has four sacks in eight games with two forced fumbles.

Carolina Panthers DE Jadeveon Clowney

Like the Titans, the Panthers won in close fashion Sunday, but are still tied for the lead for the first overall pick in the 2025 draft with six other teams at 2-7. Carolina could move defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, who signed a two-year, $20 million deal after 9½ sacks for the Ravens in 2023. Clowney, 31, has missed two games this year with a shoulder injury and has one sack with three tackles for loss in seven games.

New Orleans Saints DE Chase Young

Last year, Detroit fans looked at Young, 25, as a potential name to add as Washington stripped down, but he went to the San Francisco 49ers instead, with mixed results. Young signed a one-year deal with the Saints in free agency, and New Orleans could be in the market to unload players after losing seven straight and firing head coach Dennis Allen. Young has 2½ sacks and 10 tackles in nine games this year.

Jared Ramsey is a sports reporter for the Detroit Free Press. Follow Jared on X @jared_ramsey22, and email him at jramsey@freepress.com.