3 weakside linebackers the Lions could trade for ahead of the trade deadline, including one of the NFL’s best coverage defenders
Detroit’s revolving door at WILL and coverage linebacker has become impossible to ignore. From an All-Pro swing to a potential seventh-round rental, there are options before the deadline.
Here’s the thing. This Detroit Lions linebacker trade target story was coming regardless of what happened against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday. It was planned for Monday because the Lions need linebacker help, specifically at weakside linebacker and in coverage.
To be clear, this is not about Jack Campbell or a reaction to Campbell going down. None of these players are middle linebackers. This is about the Will spot and the coverage linebacker role. If you haven’t noticed, Detroit has had a lot of issues there.
Devin White started the season at that spot, but the Lions started taking him off the field because he wasn’t playing well. Then Malcolm Rodriguez took over and began to struggle. Trevor Nowaske got his turn. White came back, then got hurt. Jimmy Rolder played some on Sunday against the Vikings before he left with a hamstring injury and missed the rest of the game.
That’s a lot of bodies for one position. So I went looking for the best weakside and coverage linebackers who could help, and here are three options.
Eagles LB Zack Baun is the biggest swing
Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Zack Baun is one of the best linebackers in the NFL. No doubt about it. There’s been a lot of trade speculation around the Eagles, and Baun is one of the names that makes sense if Philadelphia decides to sell. He has his biggest cap hit next season, and he turns 30 this year, so keeping him could get costly.
Philadelphia also looks like it might be in a spot to start selling. We know the Eagles aren’t trading Saquon Barkley, but that doesn’t mean everybody else is off the table. If I’m the Lions, I’m at least calling to see what they want for Baun.
Our trade simulator says Baun is pretty expensive. He’s worth 1,434 points to the Eagles, and the best Detroit could do to make it work on the simulator is its next two second-round picks.
I think the simulator is wrong here. I think the Lions could call up the Eagles, offer a third- or fourth-round pick, and get this done.
That would put Detroit in a good spot with Derrick Barnes, Baun, and hopefully Campbell. We don’t know what Campbell’s situation looks like at this point, but Baun would help regardless. He’s one of the best coverage linebackers in football. The big question is whether Philadelphia actually wants to move him, and right now his name is at least coming up in trade speculation.
Chargers LB Daiyan Henley is a familiar name
Next up is Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Daiyan Henley. I mocked Henley to the Lions several times before the Chargers drafted him. Detroit wound up taking Campbell instead, but Henley has developed into a solid off-ball linebacker with the athleticism to help in coverage.
His first two seasons in Los Angeles were really good. The last two have been different. However, the Chargers also went through changes on defense, and I think he’d be a better fit in Detroit. He’s also a good run defender and a good pass rusher.
I don’t think he’d cost an insane amount, either. A fifth-round pick could probably get it done. For a fifth, why not?
The only problem is whether the Chargers want to sell. All we’ve heard lately is that they don’t. If they fall to 0-7, though, maybe they change their minds.
Colts LB Akeem Davis-Gaither could be had for almost nothing
Indianapolis Colts starting weakside linebacker Akeem Davis-Gaither is kind of a hot-and-cold player. Watch some of his better games this season, and you’ll see a guy who can hold up in coverage while playing a ton of coverage snaps.
Then look at some of the rougher games. Against the really good teams, he’s struggled in that area.
He’s still a 29-year-old veteran with a ton of starting experience, and he could come in and improve that room immediately. The even better part is the price. I think Detroit could get him for a seventh-round pick, and our trade simulator puts that deal right down the middle. It’s about as fair as it gets.
He’ll be a free agent at the end of the season, so this would be a rental. That’s fine. The Lions get a starting weakside linebacker now, then they can keep developing Rolder and see what they can find in the draft.
Detroit has options here. Let’s see if the Lions make a call.
Detroit Lions News