Edge rusher, the Lions tried to sign as a free agent, per an NFL insider, could now be on the trade block in 2026
Detroit Lions were linked by Adam Schefter to a pass rusher in free agency, and now he’s suddenly on the trade block in 2026, with a potential price tag that could surprise fans.
Let’s rewind back to last year for a second, shall we? Free agency has just started, and the rumors out there were that the Detroit Lions were attempting to sign an edge rusher.
The rumors got even bigger when ESPN’s Adam Schefter went on Free Agency Frenzy and said that he was hearing the Lions were interested in then-Eagles free agent Josh Sweat.
That deal never happened. Sweat would go on to sign a four-year $76.4 million deal with the Arizona Cardinals. After just one year in the desert, there are now reports that the Cardinals are getting calls on trades for Sweat.
So, that then begs the question…
Should the Lions trade for Josh Sweat, and what would it cost?
Ok, let’s start here. Can the Lions afford it? The answer is kind of yes. The Lions can take on the 2026 cap hit of $10.88 million for sure. 2027 and 2028 are when you start to see the problem with cap hits of $18.1 million each. The Lions could potentially restructure, but they probably don’t want to tie themselves to a 30-year edge rusher for longer than they have to. It’s also worth noting that the dead cap doesn’t put them in a good situation to get out of the deal early if they want.
Ok, so then the next question is what is the asking price for the Cardinals? This is baseline, going to cost something in the market of a day two pick. Like a 2027 third-round pick could get it done. The Lions have that to give.
At the end of the day, it’s not a move that makes much sense for Detroit. They’d have to give up a lot, and they’d be tied to him till at least 2029. On top of that, the Lions just used a second-round pick on Derrick Moore, and he’s expected to be the Lions’ answer at edge 2. Just go ahead and stick with that idea for now.
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