Three blockbuster trades the Detroit Lions could make during the 2026 NFL Draft
The Lions could make two huge trades to bring in starting edge rushers or they could make a trade for their quarterback of the future
The 2026 NFL Draft is next week, and if you’ve learned anything over the years, it’s that anything can happen. Including big trades for big players.
For Brad Holmes and the Detroit Lions, this is the place where they get the most aggressive. We’ve seen Holmes do all kinds of crazy trades to go get the players that he wants. So you have to think that maybe there could be blockbuster trades this year that involve the Lions. Here are three realistic moves they could make:
Trade for Kayvon Thibodeaux
The Giants are in really good shape on the defensive line with Dexter Lawrence (who probably gets a raise instead of getting traded), Brian Burns, and Abdul Carter. Thibodeaux is the odd man out. This is where the Lions can go into the draft and make a move to bring in a really good edge rusher to start opposite Aidan Hutchinson immediately. The best part is that it doesn’t cost a lot.
Lions get: Kayvon Thibodeaux
Giants get: 118th and 213th picks in the 2026 NFL Draft
The reason the cost is low is that he does a $14 million cap hit this year, and there have been some injuries. The Giants shouldn’t get much more than this. This is actually an upgrade over what ESPN’s Bill Barnwell has the Ravens offering the Giants in his proposal.
The big trade-up for the falling player
I think it’s unwise for the Lions to trade up at this time, but if Mami’s Francis Mauigoa does take the fall out of the top five that some think he could take, then that changes things. The Lions would then be wise to maybe think about it. But what would it cost?
On our big board, we have his latest possible draft spot as the ninth pick, so we’ll work from there. The Lions would have to make a deal with the Chiefs. Here’s what something like that could look like:
Lions get: 9th pick (Use on Francis Mauigoa)
Chiefs get: 17th pick, 118th pick, and 128th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft
The most comparable situation to this one would be in 2018 when the Cardinals traded up to get Josh Rosen. They sent the Raiders the 15th, 79th, and 152nd picks for the 10th pick. The Lions don’t have a third, so they’re going to have to send both fourths.
Getting the quarterback of the future from the Colts
I wrote an article about this one not long ago, but I still believe that the Lions are the best landing spot for Anthony Richardson, and since I believe they might draft a quarterback anyway, here’s a chance to get a guy who is still just 23-years-old and have him sit under the learning tree of a bunch of former NFL quartebacks and quarterback coaches on your staff.
Lions get: Anthony Richardson
Colts get: 181st pick
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