Category: Trades

Looking into the Lions future draft picks after the NFL trade deadline

Recapping what picks the Lions have in the 2025 and 2026 NFL Drafts after the NFL trade deadline

The trade deadline has officially wrapped up and the Lions have made their move, trading with the Cleveland Browns for premier edge rusher Za’Darius Smith, who will fill in for an injured Aidan Hutchinson.  That being said, in a year where Detroit has a chance at a Super Bowl, they still have a lot of hope for the future in their remaining picks. 

Lions 2025 Picks

Retained Detroit picks:

First-round pick

Second-round pick

Fourth-round pick 

Seventh-round pick 

 

Picks acquired through trades

Sixth-round pick via Buccaneers- Back in March, the Lions traded away their 2025 sixth-round pick for Buccaneers cornerback and Super Bowl champion Carlton Davis. Outside of Davis, Detroit received a 2024 sixth-round pick and a 2025 sixth-round pick.

Seventh-Round pick via Cowboys- The Lions retained the pick after trading up for Terrion Arnold in the 2024 draft. The Cowboys traded the 24th overall pick and a 2025 seventh-round pick for Detroit’s 29th and 73rd overall picks.

 

Picks Traded away

Third-round pick- In another trade-up situation, the Lions gave away their third-round pick to the Jets to draft offensive tackle, Giovanni Manu. 

Fourth-round pick from Eagles- Detroit traded their fourth-round pick to the Eagles to move up to draft safety/running back Sione Vaki.

Fifth-round pick- Just traded to the Browns for edge rusher Za’Darius Smith.

Sixth-round pick- During last year’s trade deadline, the Lions traded their sixth-round pick to the Cleveland Browns for wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones.

Detroit 2026 Picks

Retained Lions Picks:

First round pick 

Second round pick 

Third round pick 

Fourth round pick 

Fifth round pick 

Seventh round pick 

Picks Acquired Through Trades:

Seventh-Round Pick- Traded by Browns for Za’Darius Smith.

Picks Traded Away:

Sixth-round pick- Traded to the Browns for Za’Darius Smith.

It has been an exciting season so far for Detroit, but the Lions also have to be excited about the possibility of new superstars wearing blue and gray in the future. 

Lions stand pat at NFL trade deadline after the Za’Darius Smith deal

Lions GM Brad Holmes was unable to pull off any other trades at the deadline after acquiring Za’Darius Smith

The NFL trade deadline hit at 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday with no fresh news involving the Detroit Lions. GM Brad Holmes and the Lions made their move hours earlier on Tuesday morning in acquiring EDGE Za’Darius Smith from the Cleveland Browns in exchange for two Day 3 draft picks.

Other teams made some moves around the league, but none of the big-name pass rushers like Myles Garrett or Maxx Crosby were traded. Nor was NFL sack leader Trey Hendrickson of the Bengals, a team that was a buyer at the trade deadline for just the second time since 1970.

None of the more realistic Lions targets wound up being dealt, either. Azeez Ojulari remains with the Giants, with New York apparently wanting too much in return for any other team to nibble. Chase Young and Carl Granderson are still New Orleans Saints, as unlikely as a Lions trade for either player might have been. Arden Key and Harold Landry stuck with the Titans, too.

Detroit lacked significant draft capital to make some minor moves, having already traded away next year’s third-round and fourth-round picks in trades made during the 2024 NFL Draft.

Nor did the Lions trade away any players, as expected. The injuries across the defensive line made any concept of dealing someone like James Houston or Isaiah Thomas prohibitive.

Trade alert: Lions to acquire EDGE Za’Darius Smith from the Browns

Trade alert: Lions to acquire EDGE Za’Darius Smith from the Browns for draft picks

After several weeks of trade rumors and suggestions flying all over the place, the Detroit Lions have indeed completed a deal. The Lions are acquiring veteran EDGE Za’Darius Smith from the Cleveland Browns ahead of Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline.

Trade details

The Lions get EDGE Za’Darius Smith and a 7th-round pick in 2026 from Cleveland

Cleveland gets Detroit’s 5th rounder in 2025 and a 6th-round pick in 2026

Smith, 32, has started all of the Browns games in the last two seasons, primarily playing the stand-up EDGE spot opposite Myles Garrett. He had five sacks in Cleveland’s first eight games after bagging 5.5 sacks in 2023.

With season-ending injuries to starters Aidan Hutchinson and Marcus Davenport, plus a preseason injury to veteran John Cominsky and recent health issues for Josh Paschal, the Lions were desperate to bring in pass-rushing help. Smith should instantly vault to the top of the EDGE depth chart for the rest of 2024. He is also under contract for 2025, though the Lions might seek to rework that deal once the trade is in the books.

Dan Campbell on potential Lions trades: ‘I can tell you we’re trying’

Dan Campbell on potential Lions trades: ‘I can tell you we’re trying’ but the Detroit coach isn’t worried if no deals get done

The NFL trade deadline is Tuesday afternoon, and as of publication time on Monday evening, the Lions have been quiet. There have been rumors and reports of talks with other teams, but nothing concrete involving Detroit.

Despite the seemingly urgent need for reinforcements on the injury-ravaged defensive line, the Lions haven’t been involved in any deals. Don’t mistake the inactivity for a lack of effort or diligence on the team’s part, however. Head coach Dan Campbell made that clear in his Monday press conference following the team’s impressive 24-14 win in Green Bay.

“Yeah, I think it’s hard to say. I don’t think it’s entirely up to us,” Campbell stated matter-of-factly. “I can tell you we’re trying, (Lions GM) Brad (Holmes)’s trying, and we’ve looked at everything, we really have, made a ton of calls, and he’s been rolling on it. So, we’ll see, we still have a little bit of time here. We have until tomorrow evening so, we’ll see what happens.”

Campbell seemed unconcerned if a deal doesn’t get done. He’s a firm believer in the guys already in the building, and he reiterated that faith in the current roster. When asked if feels like the team is lacking anywhere if they don’t make any moves, Campbell responded,

“No. I mean, look, if it’s not, we’re rolling. We got our guys and we’re going and that’s the bottom line. And if something doesn’t get done, we’ll start poaching some of these other practice squads, see if we can find some guys that we really liked when they were coming out that have some ability, see if they can grow, and then we’ll continue to give our guys here on this roster a shot.”

Jaguars to pay $7 million of Cam Robinson’s remaining contract in trade deal

The Jacksonville Jaguars are on the hook for $7 million of Cam Robinson’s remaining contract after their trade with the Minnesota Vikings.

Earlier this week, the Minnesota Vikings addressed a glaring need on the team by filling the void left by injured left tackle Christian Darrisaw. Darrisaw was lost for the season with a torn ACL and MCL suffered at the end of the first half of last week’s game against the Los Angeles Rams.

The Vikings’ solution to their sudden need for an offensive lineman was to reach out the the Jacksonville Jaguars and pull off a trade for their left tackle Cam Robinson. Robinson had spent the past seven and a half seasons in Jacksonville after the team took him in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft.

Despite sticking around in Jacksonville for over seven years, it hasn’t been a smooth ride for the tackle, and he’s looking to get a fresh start with the Vikings. In order to facilitate that new start, it was revealed on Wednesday that the Jaguars will be paying $7 million of the nearly $10 million remaining on Robinson’s contract, according to ESPN NFL analyst Field Yates.

That means the Vikings will only be on the hook for a base salary of $2 million and a bonus of nearly $59,000 for each game Robinson is active for the Vikings for the remainder of the season. While Robinson may not be active on Sunday as he gets acclimated to his new team and the new system, he’ll likely be active for the remainder of the season—as long as he stays healthy and produces.

The Vikings have other options along the offensive line, and head coach Kevin O’Connell has hammered home the idea of putting together the “five best offensive linemen”, so if Robinson doesn’t pan out, it wouldn’t be a shock to see O’Connell shake things up. Current left guard Blake Brandel has experience at tackle, and guard Dalton Risner is expected back, which could lead to Brandel shifting outside if Robinson can’t go or struggles.

Regardless of how well the trade winds up working out for Robinson and the Vikings, only giving up a Day 3 pick in 2026 and getting the Jaguars to pay the majority of Robinson’s remaining salary is worth taking a chance in light of Darrisaw’s injury.

NFL analyst wants to see Vikings trade for Raiders defensive tackle

Despite a two-game skid, the Vikings are still NFC contenders. One NFL analyst believes they should make a move to improve their defense.

Despite the recent two-game skid and some pessimism on the team that has crept in during the past two weeks, the Minnesota Vikings are still very much in the thick of the NFC playoff picture. Despite slipping to third in their own division, Minnesota is still one of the top teams in the conference by record and would be in the playoffs if the season ended today.

That makes them very much a contender, despite what their recent play might suggest. One of the biggest issues with the Vikings recently has been, surprisingly, the play of their defense. The defensive line and linebackers have not been able to create pressure like they were at the beginning of the season, and it’s putting strain on an already haphazard defensive backs unit.

One NFL analyst, CBS Sports’ Tyler Sullivan, believes the solution to the Vikings’ recent woes may come at the trade deadline. The Vikings have already been active on the trade market, trading for familiar running back Cam Akers and then filling the hole left by an injured Christian Darrisaw with former Jaguars left tackle Cam Robinson, but they may not be done.

Sullivan suggests the Vikings contact the Las Vegas Raiders about defensive tackle Adam Butler. Butler is familiar with defensive coordinator Brian Flores and the defense he likes to run from his time with the New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins.

Despite not getting to the quarterback yet this season, Butler has one of the overall best seasons of his career in 2024 with the Raiders. Bringing Butler into the fold for the Vikings could give the team a great rotation of defensive tackles, keeping everyone fresher for longer and hopefully increasing their production.

Butler is currently on a one-year deal with the Raiders for only $1.8 million and would likely not command a high price. The price may be a bit higher than what the Vikings gave up for Robinson, but they should still be able to make a deal without touching their limited 2025 NFL Draft capital.

Vikings’ trade for Cam Robinson could be exactly what all sides need

In trading for now former Jacksonville Jaguars LT Cam Robinson, each side of the trade could be getting exactly what they need going forward

The Minnesota Vikings surprised many by pulling off a trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars to address their sudden need for a left tackle. The deal has the Vikings trading away a 2026 fifth-round pick that can escalate to a fourth, depending on playing time.

In exchange, the Vikings get somewhat of a reclamation project in left tackle Cam Robinson, along with a conditional 2026 seventh-round pick – one that can go away depending on playing time.

The trade is a rare example of the kind of low-risk, high-reward deal that, if the season continues to go well for the Vikings, could wind up being great for every party involved. For the Jaguars’ part, they get a disgruntled player off their hands and get a day-three pick in 2026 in exchange – but will likely have to pay some of Robinson’s $10 million remaining salary to do so.

As for the Vikings, they get some immediate help at a sudden position of need. With starting left tackle Christian Darrisaw tearing his ACL and MCL in the Thursday night loss to the Rams, the Vikings suddenly had a huge hole to fill at a vital position.

Robinson hasn’t been great during his eight-year career with the Jaguars, but he has been serviceable – when he’s been in the lineup. That caveat has been the biggest rub on Robinson the past few years. Robinson hasn’t played a full season – whether it be due to injury, suspension, or benching – since 2020 and only once in his career.

Robinson’s benching last week with the Jaguars continued that trend into this season. That benching was—most likely—the final straw in the relationship between the teams and the impetus for this trade from the Jaguars’ end.

For Robinson, he gets a chance to rehab his image in the league’s eye for his next stop. In all likelihood, Robinson is little more than a rental for the Vikings for the remainder of the season, not a long-term option for the team.

Robinson is in the last year of the deal he signed with the Jaguars, and while Darrisaw won’t return this season, there’s little reason to believe he won’t be back to at or near his usual form for next season.

What Robinson gets is a chance to audition for 30 other teams – as he’s unlikely to return to the Jaguars in free agency – on a team that has exceeded expectations this season despite the two-game losing streak.

Robinson gets to be a lynchpin on an offensive line that protects one of the league’s leading passers in Sam Darnold, a good running back in Aaron Jones, and has weapons like Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and soon the return of tight end T.J. Hockenson.

If Robinson can hold up on the offensive line, and the Vikings can make the playoffs with Robinson as their left tackle, he could see a lucrative free agency in his future. There are a number of concerns hovering around Robinson, but a good close to the season on a good team could erase many of them.

Dan Campbell gets coy about Lions potential trade deadline plans

Detroir coach Dan Campbell gets coy about Lions potential trade deadline plans during his press conference

The NFL trade deadline is next Tuesday. It’s fair to say the Detroit Lions and head coach Dan Campbell are acutely aware of that time frame.

One of the first questions for Campbell at his Monday press conference following the Lions 52-14 win over the Tennessee Titans was about any potential trade winds blowing. Campbell played it coyly when asked if anything was imminent.

“It could be, yeah,” Campbell said.

When asked a quick follow-up about if GM Brad Holmes had come to the coach with any trades, Campbell upped the coyness.

“Yeah, could be,” Campbell said with a wry smile.Campbell said with a wry smile.

Trades are already starting to go down, including the Kansas City Chiefs acquiring pass rusher Josh Uche from the Patriots for a 6th-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.

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Brad Holmes checking due diligence boxes on veteran pass rushers

Brad Holmes checking due diligence boxes on veteran pass rushers Haason Reddick and Za’Darius Smith, but don’t confuse due diligence for “Detroit’s making a move!”

The quest to fill the Lions roster holes at EDGE, after losing starters Marcus Davenport and now Aidan Hutchinson to season-ending injuries, has taken over the discussion in Detroit.

Lions GM Brad Holmes already started the process by signing young EDGE Isaiah Thomas from the Cincinnati Bengals practice squad. Holmes isn’t done looking, however.

Numerous reports, including from ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, indicate Holmes and the Lions have had conversations with the New York Jets about veteran Haason Reddick. The former Eagles, Panthers and Cardinals sack artist is holding out after being traded to New York from Philadelphia in April. The Jets have now given Reddick, who has topped 10 sacks in each of the last four seasons while playing for three different teams, permission to try and find a trade partner.

As Fowler noted in his report, this is Holmes performing “due diligence” on potential solutions. There are also unsubstantiated reports the Lions have talked to the Cleveland Browns about veteran Za’Darius Smith. The 32-year-old also fits the profile of a “role player” that head coach Dan Campbell indicated the Lions were looking for, though he does carry a salary cap obligation of almost $10 million in 2025.

Holmes’ job is to explore every opportunity. It appears he is doing so, based on the reports. However, don’t confuse “talking about” with “trading for”; there are way too many variables and factors on both sides of those equations to read any certainty into Holmes doing anything more than his obligated due diligence at this point.

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Minnesota Vikings trade CB Andrew Booth Jr. to Dallas Cowboys

On Friday, the Minnesota Vikings traded cornerback Andrew Booth Jr. to the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for cornerback Nashon Wright.

On Friday, the Minnesota Vikings traded cornerback Andrew Booth Jr. to the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for cornerback Nashon Wright. Tom Pelissero of NFL Media first reported the trade.

Booth Jr. was buried at the bottom of the cornerback depth chart that was released by the team earlier this week. He had not practiced much during training camp, and the writing was on the wall for the two parties to go different ways. The former Clemson Tiger was drafted in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft and had high expectations.

Sadly, he could never get his footing with the team after an injury cut his rookie year short.

In exchange for Booth Jr., the Vikings received another cornerback, Nashon Wright, who had also been struggling with his team. Wright was not great in coverage for the Cowboys, but his PFF grade for run support was a favorable 78 overall.

It will be interesting to see if Wright makes the final roster, but the trade makes sense regardless. The Vikings send away a player they would’ve cut anyway. This allows them to get a view of Wright, and they can decide what to do next.