10 mock trades that Lions fans really want to see at the deadline
Ok, the Detroit Lions are off on Tuesday and everything is pushed back a day due to their next game being on a Monday night. So I wanted to try something different for the trade deadline. I keep telling fans who the Lions should go after. This time I wanted to hear it from you? […]
Ok, the Detroit Lions are off on Tuesday and everything is pushed back a day due to their next game being on a Monday night. So I wanted to try something different for the trade deadline.
I keep telling fans who the Lions should go after. This time I wanted to hear it from you? So I asked Lions fans on Twitter to tell me who they realistically wanted the Lions to make a move for. I got a ton of responses and picked 10 names.
I'm now going to do 10 mock trades to see what those moves could cost and if they're truly possible. Let's jump into it.
Brian Burns
Burns seems to be a real favorite for Lions fans and I can totally see why. He's a very good pass rusher that's still only 25-years-old and would fit really well on the other side of Aidan Hutchinson.
The only real hold up here is that he's in the final year of his rookie deal and whoever trades for him is going to more than likely have to foot the bill for his new contract. the Lions can do that, but fans have to be comfortable with the idea that their team is a team that spends money now. Good teams do plenty of that.
What would it take to get this deal done? Here's the offer I would send over to Carolina.
- Lions get: Brian Burns
- Panthers get: 2024 1st round pick and a 2025 2nd round pick
It's not going to be cheap. The Panthers turned down an offer from the Rams last year that consisted of two first round picks. The reason why it's a little bit cheaper this year is because the Panthers have so much to do that they might not want to pay top dollar to an edge rusher right now. Plus they don't have a first round pick in 2024.
Josh Uche
Uche is an interesting name. He's an edge rusher that has looked pretty good in the past, but isn't having the best season this year. Much like Burns, he's also in the last year of his rookie deal and will be looking for a new deal after this season. There's been talk off an on about the Patriots serving him an extension, although none of that talk seems super real at the moment.
This would be a cheaper alternative to Burns in both assets traded and the new contract he'll get. Here's my offer to the Patriots.
- Lions get: Josh Uche
- Patriots get: 2024 3rd round pick and a 2025 4th round pick
Kendall Fuller
I'll be honest, I don't think the Commanders have any designs on trading Fuller right now. He is playing significantly well at the moment. Like one of the best corners in the league right now. I would guess they'd be more inclined to try to sign him to a new deal.
With that said, it's not out of the realm of possibility that the team would want to move on from the 28-year-old corner instead of paying him top dollar. Much like the previous two teams listed on here, these teams are in, or on the verge of a rebuild. So here's what I would offer the Commanders for Fuller.
- Lions get: Kendall Fuller
- Commanders get: 2024 3rd round pick
At the end of the day, Fuller is in that weird spot where he's playing super well, but he's older and you worry about spending a lot on a guy that you don't know will be around for a lot longer or will be able to continue playing at this level. I feel like most teams would be hesitant to offer something bigger than this.
Khalil Mack
Here's the thing on Mack. He's 32-years-old. He is still playing at a high level, but he's 32-years-old. He's also due to make $17.5 million as a base salary next season as a 33-year-old. That and I don't think the Chargers would really want to trade him right now. They're a weird team that looks bad and then always finds its way to the playoffs.
With that said, here's what I would offer.
- Lions get: Khalil Mack
- Chargers get: 2024 3rd round pick and a 2024 7th round pick
Slightly less than what the Chargers paid for him before the start of the 2022 season.
Maxx Crosby
I just don't see this one happening at all. I know it's a the top of the dream list for Lions fans, but he's just too good for the Raiders to trade away. I wrote a few weeks back about what I think it would cost the Lions to make this deal and I don't think it would be a penny less than that today. I actually think it would be more now.
- Lions get: Maxx Crosby
- Raiders get: 2024 1st round pick, 2025 2nd round pick and Josh Paschal
I'm not even confident that this offer would be enough.
Matt Prater
Why the hell not? The Lions clearly don't trust Riley Patterson. Why not bring Prater back home. The Cardinals are a team that aren’t going anywhere and I'm sure they would love any assets they can get for the future. Here's an offer.
- Lions get: Matt Prater
- Cardinals get: Riley Patterson and a conditional 2025 7th round pick.
The fair condition here is that the Cardinals 7th round pick goes to a 6th round pick if the Lions win a playoff game. Seems fair to me at least.
Derrick Henry
The Lions already have a crowded backfield. Even if there's problems keeping it healthy. I fully believe there's a chance that Henry gets dealt at the deadline, I just don't see why the Lions would be the team to make that move.
Now if they did, that's quite a three headed monster with Henry, Montgomery and Gibbs. It kind of reminds you of those Saints teams that like to go ultra by committee in the run game. Isn't there guy on the Lions coaching staff that comes from the Saints?
Ok, let's be real. I don't think it happens, but here's what I would offer to the Titans.
- Lions get: Derrick Henry
- Titans get: 2024 2nd and a 2025 4th round pick
Chase Young
I've long maintained that Young is the most realistic option at the deadline and I still feel that way today. I think he fits really well with the Lions and could take advantage of the attention that Aidan Hutchinson gets.
I'm going to go with the same deal I've been going with since this summer.
- Lions get: Chase Young
- Commanders get: 2024 3rd round pick
Patrick Surtain II
I'm currently trapped somewhere in between the Broncos saying they're not going to trade him and knowing that teams say that all the time right before they trade a guy.
This would be the most ideal thing that could possibly happen at the deadline, unless of course, the Lions did this and got Brian Burns too. Yes, I know that's a lot. take a second to breathe. Ok, you good? come back to Earth now.
The biggest thing standing in the way of this is what the Broncos reportedly want to just to take the phone call.
With that in mind, here's what I think an offer to make this happen would look like.
- Lions get: Patrick Surtain
- Broncos get: 2024 1st round pick, 2024 first round pick and Jack Campbell
The report says they'd want two first round picks and another asset. That asset would either have to be another high pick or it would have to be a player with some value. Campbell has that value.
Carl Lawson
Ultra realistic move here that would probably disappoint Lions fans on the onset. I think there's a strong chance that they do take some big swings. I also think that just because you swing, that doesn't mean you're going to connect. Lawson is totally doable and would probably flourish in Detroit.
Here's what I would offer the Jets:
- Lions get: Carl Lawson
- Jets get: a 2024 5th round pick
He's 28-years-old and the Jets have moved on from him in their starting lineup. They're crazy if they think they're getting a big return for him.
Bonus! Ndamuhkong Suh
Multiple people in the comments suggested bring back Suh at the deadline. While he's not currently on a roster and you don't to trade anything for him, this is typically Suh season. This is the time of year where he comes out of nowhere and picks a team to play for in an effort to maybe win another championship.
He has not retired yet and it's weird that he hasn't retired yet. If he wants to come back to the Lions, I'll offer a one year deal for $1 million. I don't know, I was never good at coming up with contract figures.
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