The NFL trade deadline is fast approaching for the Detroit Lions and the rest of the NFL, and we’ve talked a lot about what we think the Lions should do.

Today, I want to talk about what they shouldn’t do.

There are a lot of different trade ideas floating around out there, and I thought it might be fun to compile the worst I’ve seen. Let’s jump into it.

Lions trade third-round pick to the Jets for Will McDonald IV

This idea comes from Max Dibble of Heavy Sports.

Let’s start here. This is a deal that does not work out well for the Lions, as you can see from our simulator. It’s a massive overpay. Like, it’s highway robbery from the Jets.

My first thought was that they wouldn’t trade him, but if the Lions offered this, the Jets would probably giggle and say yes, and then laugh hysterically afterward.

The Lions just don’t need an edge rusher right now. After six weeks, the Lions are sixth in pressures, and all of the teams ahead of them have played six games. Detroit also leads the league in sacks.

D.J. Wonnum is playing really well, and then the team is still bringing along Derrick Moore. It just doesn’t make sense for them.

Lions trade a 2027 1st, 2027 2nd, and a 2028 second-round pick to the Titans for Jeffrey Simmons

This one comes from Austin Stanley of A to Z Sports. (Not you, Austin. Not you!)

I mean, when they asked me about it, I told them it was insane, and they just did it anyway.

The Lions are just worlds away from needing to trade for an interior defensive lineman. They definitely don’t need to give up a first-round pick for one. They also definitely don’t need to trade a first and two seconds.

They definitely don’t need one who just signed a three-year, $105 million deal in June.

Alim McNeill is playing really well right now. He’s currently PFF’s ninth-highest-graded interior defensive lineman. Tyleik Williams has also played very well at the nose tackle spot, and rookie Skyler Gill-Howard is getting more and more opportunities every week, and he’s making the most of them.

The Lions just don’t need Simmons right now.

Lions trade Sam LaPorta and a third-round pick to the Cardinals for Budda Baker, Josh Sweat, and a fourth-round pick

This one comes from Christian Booher of Sports Illustrated.

I mean, what are we even doing here?

The Cardinals would likely think this is some sort of prank call. You’d think Cardinals assistant GM Dave Sears, who spent many years with the Lions, would pull aside his former boss Brad Holmes and say, “Are you feeling OK?”

Sweat is pushing 30, and Baker is pushing 31. Neither is playing all that well this season.

LaPorta has been playing very well and is a pillar player in this franchise. That’s why he’s going to get that extension from Detroit, even if talks have recently stalled.

I just don’t know what is accomplished by the Lions here.

Lions trade Juice Scruggs and a fifth-round pick to the Ravens for Marlon Humphrey

This one comes from Mike Payton of A to Z Sports. (Wait, what?)

Hey, I’m not opposed to throwing some dirt at myself either. This was not a great idea.

Humphrey has been regressing, and Scruggs is currently graded out as the top center in the NFL by PFF.

Ultimately, I do believe the Lions will get trade calls on either Scruggs or Cade Mays before the deadline, but I kind of doubt they move either of them unless the return is great.

This is not that, Mike.

Detroit Lions News

The Chargers are 0-6, so I started shopping their secondary for the Lions — here’s what each trade could cost

Mike Payton 23 hours ago