The NFL trade deadline is quickly approaching, with the days counting down to 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday, November 5th. It’s an especially anxious time for the Detroit Lions, who are in the market for replacements for injured pass rushers and perhaps some depth additions elsewhere on the roster.
If the NFC-leading Lions elect to make a trade, they figure to be buyers. The team does have enough salary cap room in 2024 to absorb a player or two without deviating too much from the long-term strategy and team-building structure. Detroit also makes for an attractive destination for veteran players looking to join a winner — if their current team is willing to part with them…
…and that’s the difficult part. Finding players who are available and fit the Lions stated and steadfast criteria for being part of Dan Campbell’s tight-knit unit isn’t easy. Pass rushers who don’t play the run on their way to the quarterback (see: Joshua Uche) have no place in Detroit. Offensive linemen who can’t move people or move well carry little use for these Lions, as well.
Enough with the fantasy nonsense about Maxx Crosby or Myles Garrett. Even if either superstar were available for trade, the price tag would figure to be so far beyond what Lions GM Brad Holmes and this regime have shown they would ever part with that it’s not worth considering — and neither is any more available than Penei Sewell or Amon-Ra St. Brown are for teams calling the Lions. Yes, Lions fans, it’s that absurd of an idea to those teams, whether you think Las Vegas and Cleveland are delusional franchises or not.
How about some realistic targets that the Lions could conceivably be willing to acquire before next Tuesday’s deadline?
Emmanuel Ogbah, DE, Dolphins
Sep 8, 2024; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Dolphins linebacker Emmanuel Ogbah (91) celebrates after sacking Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (not pictured) during the fourth quarter at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
The veteran Dolphins EDGE looks–and plays–like a slightly shorter version (he’s 6-foot-4 and a listed 275) of injured Lions starter Marcus Davenport. He’s physical and capably plays on the left or right side of the defense, either standing up or with a hand in the dirt.
A free agent after the season, Ogbah turns 31 the day after the trade deadline. The 2-6 Dolphins have a rookie in Mohammed Kamara who can’t get on the field because Ogbah blocks his spot. Ogbah has two sacks and 11 QB pressures (per PFF) in seven games.
Some Lions fans have pointed to a connection with Detroit front office assistant John Dorsey from their time in Cleveland, where Ogbah began his career in 2016. It’s important to note that Dorsey was not responsible for drafting Ogbah, but he did trade him away (for DB Eric Murray) a year after taking over as the Browns GM.
Za’Darius Smith, EDGE, Browns
Oct 27, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns defensive end Za’Darius Smith (99) sacks Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) during the second half at Huntington Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Garrett is not available, but there has been a lot of chatter about the 2-6 Browns being willing to part with Smith. The 32-year-old can still “crush the can” as an outside-in style of power rusher, bagging three sacks in Cleveland’s last four games. Smith even indicated in a recent interview he’d be happy to join the Lions.
At 6-foot-4 and 270 pounds, Smith checks the size and style boxes the Lions covet on the edge. The 3-time Pro Bowler (last in 2022 with the Vikings) is noted for his keen ability to blow up screen passes, aside from the 65 career sacks. The Lions will not be the only interested party in Smith, so the price tag might be higher than expected.
Azeez Ojulari, EDGE, Giants
Oct 13, 2024; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York Giants linebacker Azeez Ojulari (51) tackles Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) during the first half at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images
Ojulari took advantage of the national stage to showcase himself as a potential trade target, bagging two sacks and seven tackles in a very active outing Monday night against the Steelers. The 24-year-old now has six sacks in eight games, very legit production for a Giants team heading toward a top-10 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
He’s available because the Giants have Brian Burns and 2022 first-rounder Kayvon Thibodeaux (currently injured) at his position, and he’s a free agent after the year. While he’s extremely small for the Lions at a perhaps generously listed 240 pounds on his 6-foot-3 frame, Ojulari does play with requisite physicality. Ojulari is another player who figures to have numerous suitors, which puts the Lions at a disadvantage because they’ll pick so late in any round; the fourth-rounder from Detroit might be 10-15 slots later than one from Atlanta or Minnesota.
Chase Young, EDGE, Saints
Sep 8, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Saints defensive end Chase Young (99) against the Carolina Panthers during the pregame at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
At this time last year, Young was the apple of many Lions fans’ eyes. Then with Washington, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft wound up being traded to the 49ers and chipped in 2.5 sacks on San Francisco’s way to the Super Bowl.
It simply has not worked as well as hoped for Young in New Orleans, where he signed as a free agent this past offseason. The 6-foot-5, 265-pounder has two sacks and 30 pressures (per PFF) for New Orleans, playing exclusively as a stand-up right EDGE, but he’s struggled to finish plays and isn’t getting off blocks like he used to, perhaps a function of a major knee injury and also offseason neck surgery. The hope would be it’s a function of playing for a team that has lost six games in a row and doesn’t appear to be well-coached, and that Young could regain his impactful old ways with a change of scenery.
Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, EDGE, Buccaneers
Sep 22, 2024; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Joe Tryon-Shoyinka (9) pressures Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix (10) in the third quarter at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
A first-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, Tryon-Shoyinka has not panned out as hoped for Tampa Bay. He has just 14 sacks in his four seasons, including one this year. The Bucs didn’t pick up his fifth-year option, so now he’s a pending free agent and clearly not in the long-term picture for the fading Buccaneers.
Tryon-Shoyinka has the desired length at 6-foot-5 and 269 pounds, but he doesn’t necessarily play with the style the Lions prefer. He misses far too many tackles (career missed tackle rate just under 25 percent) and doesn’t handle offensive line physicality well. Desperate times call for action in Detroit, however, and the idea of getting a former first-rounder on a potential reclamation rental for a late Day 3 pick certainly offers some appeal.
Arden Key, EDGE, Titans
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) is sacked by Tennessee Titans linebacker Arden Key (49) during the first quarter of the NFL game against Tennessee Titans at Ford Field in Detroit on Oct. 27, 2024.
Key is certainly fresh in the mind after sacking Jared Goff twice in the first quarter of Sunday’s Lions romp over his Titans. He’s a player the Lions had at least some cursory interest in as a free agent in 2023, as well.
The 240-pound Key is undersized for Detroit’s scheme, though he does exhibit some physicality as a pass rusher. He’s an NFL journeyman at 28; he’s played for four teams in the last five seasons. Key produced more than half of his pass rush production for the entire season in the first half against Detroit, and Lions left tackle Taylor Decker made a minor adjustment to his blocking and completely eliminated Key after halftime. Still, he’s available and inexpensive to acquire–and those both matter.
Dre’Mont Jones, DL, Seahawks
Oct 20, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins (18) is sacked by Seattle Seahawks defensive end Dre’Mont Jones (55) at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
Jones is another player who had a nice game against the Lions earlier this year. The 27-year-old sacked Jared Goff in the end zone for a safety in Detroit’s Week 4 win.
At 6-foot-3 and 280 pounds, Jones doesn’t really fit well as an outside rusher–which is part of why Seattle would be willing to part with him. This Lions defense collects players who can play a heavy DE role or also kick inside to play over a guard (think Levi Onwuzurike, Josh Paschal and Mekhi Wingo), however, and Jones fits that bill with fairly consistent production as a pass rusher and reliable cog in the run game.
Jones also has a terrible contract, due $16 million (though none guaranteed) in salary in 2025 that would have to be immediately restructured upon any trade.