Lions NFL trade deadline rumor tracker: Here are pass rushers to watch

Posted by Admin October 28, 2024 NFL

The 2024 NFL trade deadline is about a week away and the Detroit Lions are a known shopper.

The Lions (6-1), currently the No. 1 seed in the NFC, and are looking to bolster the roster to make a run for the franchise’s first Super Bowl appearance. The Lions have navigated key injuries on defense, including an expected season-ending leg injury to star pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson, and are in need of pass rush help for the season’s second half and the playoffs. (We highlighted seven names to watch a few weeks ago.)

The NFL trade deadline is Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 4 p.m. E.T., the day as U.S. election day). Lions general manager Brad Holmes has shown he’s willing to make in-season trades before after shipping tight end T.J. Hockenson to the Minnesota Vikings in 2022, and acquiring wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones from the Cleveland Browns last year.

Here are the latest updates from the 2024 NFL trade deadline.

Dan Campbell says trade ‘could be’ coming

Lions coach Dan Campbell said Monday from Allen Park the team still is looking at options on the trade front. Asked if he feels a deal is imminent, Campbell said, “Could be. Yeah, it could be.”

When a reporter asked if Holmes has come to him with any deal, Campbell playfully jumped in the air and said, “Yeah, it could be.”

Josh Uche edge rusher traded to Chiefs

The Kansas City Chiefs were the first team to dip their toes into the edge rusher market. On Monday, the NFL’s last undefeated team sent a 2026 sixth-round pick to the New England Patriots in exchange for outside linebacker and former Michigan football player Josh Uche. It is the third trade featuring a defensive player in the NFL this year and the first with an edge rusher.

Maxx Crosby and Raiders owner refute trade rumors

Michigan native and Eastern Michigan alumnus Maxx Crosby is one of the best pass rushers in the NFL on one of the worst teams, the Las Vegas Raiders. But he said he wants to remain a Raider and Las Vegas owner Mark Davis flat-out told ESPN a Crosby trade isn’t going to happen. So it is likely Crosby and his 6½ sacks in seven games this season will remain in the Sin City.

Oct. 18: Za’Darius Smith entertains trade to Lions

Cleveland Browns defensive end Za’Darius Smith told a reporter “it might be a good look” if he were traded to the Lions. The Browns (2-6) are sitting far outside of the playoff race, and could be looking to offload a veteran like Smith, who is 33, in exchange for draft picks.

Defensive ends the Lions could target

Outside of Smith, it’s highly unlikely the Browns trade superstar Myles Garrett, but they could trade another edge rusher from their deep front seven like Ogbo Okoronkwo. NFL.com also listed Denver Broncos edge rusher Baron Browning, who is in the final year of his contract, as a potential player who could be moved. The Athletic reported the Carolina Panthers’ Jadaveon Clowney and the Green Bay Packers’ Preston Smith are two other edge rushers who are expected to draw trade interest. USA TODAY noted Miami Dolphins defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah.

Do the Lions need to trade for a different position?

That option is always on the table for Holmes, but it doesn’t seem to be a necessary one for the Lions as one of the best teams in the NFL. The Lions have found production from reserves at all three levels of the defense and found ways to make it work without Hutchinson, Marcus Davenport and Derrick Barnes in the front seven.

The Lions could look to add a strongside linebacker to help replace Barnes but have made use of a linebacker room the Lions’ coaches collectively call the deepest group they’ve been around. They’ve gotten elevated production from Malcolm Rodriguez, who left the win over the Titans early with an ankle injury, Jalen Reeves-Maybin and Trevor Nowaske to pair with starters Alex Anzalone and Jack Campbell. The Lions used plenty of assets on the secondary in the offseason and it has paid off with a healthy group turning into a turnover-forcing machine.

On offense, they have depth at tackle and the interior offensive line position and showed the depth at receiver Sunday without Jameson Williams as he served the first of a two-game suspension. Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery have combined for 1,006 rushing yards and even Hendon Hooker has gotten snaps in two blowout wins to gain some experience behind Jared Goff, who’s been dealing.