The Lions could raid one rebuilding team for 2 cornerbacks — and a third trade target at a position nobody is talking about
Indianapolis looks like one of the few realistic sellers ahead of the deadline, and Detroit could potentially come away with immediate help at cornerback plus another starter at a position that has quietly become a problem.
The Detroit Lions might not have many realistic trade partners this fall, and the Indianapolis Colts look like the best fit by a wide margin. The Colts appear headed for a rebuild, and that could hand Detroit a cheap path to help at cornerback and weakside linebacker.
We wrote recently about how the Lions may only have one team that makes sense for deals. That came from a post ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler put on X on Friday about which teams around the league could sell. Fowler pointed out that, hey, the Buccaneers are still in the NFC South race, so there’s a good chance that they may not want to make a move. That was before Tampa Bay picked up a big win over the Carolina Panthers, so the Bucs are firmly in that race now. What a division. You can be 2-5 and still be right in it.
Fowler also noted the Chargers want to stand pat despite their 0-6 start. That makes sense. Their secondary, which is exactly where the Lions would want to shop, is built around young players like Tarheeb Still and Cam Hart.
Then there are the Colts. Indianapolis looks like a team facing a total reset. It will need a new GM, and coach Shane Steichen isn’t exactly on the safest ground. When you head into a rebuild, you want to stockpile draft picks. With that in mind, the expectation is that the Colts will start selling soon.
Charvarius Ward is the deal Detroit has to make
Let’s start with the secondary. Cornerback Sauce Gardner is a Colt, and no, that isn’t happening. The safeties are solid, but the Lions don’t need help there. Brian Branch looked fantastic in his return on Sunday, Chuck Clark had a good game, and Keith Abney is starting to come together. Young cornerback Justin Walley isn’t going anywhere either.
That brings us to Charvarius Ward. Lions fans have wanted Ward for a while, and I thought Detroit might go after him when he hit free agency after his time with the 49ers. The Lions passed. He’s having an OK season, and he’s a starter. Put him opposite DJ Reed and Detroit gets an upgrade right away.
Ward is 30 years old. [[FLAG]]There has also been some chatter that he could retire after this season.[[/FLAG]] That’s fine. The Lions don’t need a long-term answer right now. This offseason sets up perfectly to attack cornerback in free agency and the draft. Detroit just needs someone who can start for the rest of this season. Ward also has two years left on his deal if he wants to keep playing.
A fifth-round pick comes up as a fair trade in our simulator. Brad Holmes would make that deal any day of the week. The Colts get a pick and some money back, and the Lions get a starting cornerback who is playing fairly well. It just makes sense.
Cam Taylor-Britt is worth a sixth-round swing
Cam Taylor-Britt isn’t a starter in Indianapolis, but he could be one in Detroit. He wouldn’t have to compete with Ward or Gardner with the Lions. He would only have to beat out a few other guys.
He’s still playing. Taylor-Britt logged 25 snaps against the Vikings in Week 7 and had a decent game, and he has played 91 total snaps. He’s a good run defender, which the Lions will always value. He started some games in Cincinnati and had some good moments there, and he’s only 27.
Taylor-Britt is on a one-year deal after following Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo from Cincinnati. Detroit also had him in for a top 30 visit before the 2022 NFL Draft, so the interest isn’t new.
Our simulator values Taylor-Britt at 131 points, while the Lions’ sixth-round pick is worth 132. That’s about as even as it gets. I don’t know how good he would be as a starter, but I know he could start. That’s worth a sixth to find out. If Holmes wanted to send a fifth and a sixth to Indianapolis for both Ward and Taylor-Britt, I’d be all for it.
Akeem Davis-Gaither could settle the weakside linebacker spot
Cornerback is what Lions fans want most, but linebacker deserves a look. Derrick Barnes belongs at the Sam, even after a rough game against the Packers. Jack Campbell is the guy in the middle. The weakside spot has been a revolving door, with Devin White, Malcolm Rodriguez, and Trevor Nowaske all getting chances.
Akeem Davis-Gaither isn’t a Pro Bowler. He’s a 29-year-old weakside linebacker who is playing fairly well as a starter for the Colts. He carries a 68.0 overall grade from Pro Football Focus, along with a 74.4 run defense grade, a 74.0 pass rush grade, and an 82.1 tackling grade. He has two pressures and no sacks. Coverage could use some work, but you won’t find many coverage linebackers available at this point.
Our simulator says a seventh-round pick gets it done. For a seventh, you take the swing.
As for the bigger names, forget them. The Lions aren’t paying what it takes to land Jonathan Taylor, and they don’t need him. Quenton Nelson doesn’t make sense either with two guards playing so well. Detroit is strong in the trenches. Walking out with a starting cornerback and a starting weakside linebacker for a fifth and a seventh would be a heck of a deadline. Let’s see if Holmes picks up the phone.
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