Thoughts on the Lions and the NFL trade deadline

Lions and trade deadline thought about Detroit needs, potential targets, pricing, strategies and more

The NFL trade deadline is coming up on Halloween. Will the Detroit Lions, led by GM Brad Holmes, scare up any trade activity?

Detroit did a year ago, dealing away Pro Bowl tight end T.J. Hockenson to the NFC North rival Minnesota Vikings. At that time, the Lions were 1-6 after scoring six combined points in the two most recent games. They had the worst record in the league. Being sellers wasn’t shocking, even if the destination for Hockenson turned out to be a bit of a surprise.

This year, Detroit is sitting at 5-2 and in first place in the division by two games. Conventional wisdom would have the Lions as obvious buyers at the deadline this year, especially given the significant injury issues at RB and CB.

If there’s one thing we’ve learned about Brad Holmes since he took the reins back in early 2021, it’s that conventional wisdom doesn’t often intersect with his thought process. He’ll do what he thinks is best for the team, whether it’s brilliant or ridiculous in the public eye.

Here’s what I’m thinking about the Lions and the trade deadline one week out.