The 2025 NFL Draft is just a couple of weeks away, and it really seems like there's a large possibility that the Lions may be looking to trade their 28th pick. Whether it's up or down, we don't know at this time. But a move feels likely.

There are two teams that make the most sense for the Lions to make a deal with, and that's the Washington Commanders and the Arizona Cardinals.

There are a few different reasons why the Lions could pull off trades with these teams. In the first round, the Cardinals are at 16, and they could be looking for opportunities to get more draft picks since they don't have a ton this year like they did last year.

For the Commanders, it could be later in the draft where they don't have a third-round pick and they'd like to put together an offer to move up.

The other reason is that both teams have front office members who came from the Lions. The Commanders have assistant GM Lance Newmark. He was with the Lions for 26 years before he accepted this position with Washington last February.

The Cardinals have assistant GM Dave Sears. He was the Lions' director of college scouting until he accepted this position with the Cardinals in January of 2023.

Having relationships with teams is beneficial for both sides. You know that you're likely to get the best deal you can get without being jerked around.

Speaking of deals, what would be the best deals to work out with each team?

With the Cardinals, the Lions could make a play for that 16th pick in order to move up and get the edge rusher of their choice. 

Lions get: 16th pick
Cardinals: 24th pick and 60th pick

The Lions would have to give up their second-round pick as well as their first, but they get a better shot at Texas A&M's Shemar Stewart, Georgia's Mykel Williams, Marshall's Mike Green, Alabama's Jihaad Campbell, or Georgia's Jalon Walker. 

For the Commanders, that would be a trade down in the third round situation where the Commanders could move up, but they'd have to give away picks to do so. 

Lions get: 128th pick, 205th pick, and a 2026 fifth-round pick
Commanders get: 102nd pick

I don't think this one is as likely as the move with the Cardinals would be, but it does allow the Lions to get a little bit more value on day three, and it gives them a pick for next year. I'd do that deal. 

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