Lions would pay a high price for Myles Garrett.
Bill Polian, a longtime NFL executive, sees both risk and profit for the Lions in chasing Garrett. Polian told the Detroit Free Press that the Lions would pay a high price for the former NFL Defensive Player of the Year, who is projected to cost a new team numerous first-round picks.
The Lions have developed a Super Bowl contender by capitalizing on their draft picks, making it extremely hazardous to give up major draft capital to acquire Garrett, Polian cautioned.
“Teams that draft well are not anxious to part with their picks, because they have a way of turning those picks into quality players,” according to Polian.
Polian understands a lot about roster construction. He was elected NFL Executive of the Year six times, having led the Buffalo Bills to four Super Bowl trips as general manager and another two with the Indianapolis Colts, including a victory in Super Bowl XLI.
The Lions finished the NFL season with the best record (15-2), although they were eliminated from the playoffs after losing to the Washington Commanders in the divisional round.
Polian warned that it would take more than Garrett to propel them to the top.
“But you’re never one player away,” Polian explained.
Lions Need Help at the Edges
Whether or not they pursue a trade for Garrett, the Lions are expected to improve their pass rush this offseason. After Hutchinson suffered a season-ending leg injury in October, the club failed to produce consistent pressure, with no other player coming close to Hutchinson’s season-high 7.5 sacks.
Christian Booher of SI.com speculated that the Lions could find a new addition in the NFL draft, targeting Georgia’s Mykel Williams with the 28th overall choice.
“When it comes to play style, there’s a lot that suggests Williams would fit nicely with Detroit’s defence under first-year coordinator Kelvin Sheppard,” Booher said. “Williams’ sack performance at the university level was modest, totaling 14 sacks over three seasons with the Bulldogs. However, his physicality and athleticism appear to be capable of translating to higher-level production.”
While Williams is not a finished NFL product, Booher believes the Lions could be the best fit for him to realize his full potential.
“Williams is also on the younger end of prospects, as he won’t be 21 years old until June,” according to Booher. “Some aspects of his rush ability are in need of some fine-tuning, and the fact that he’s young with room to grow likely won’t deter teams from taking a chance on him.”
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