Over the previous three seasons, the Detroit Lions have quietly but painstakingly constructed their roster, transforming a squad that was once at the bottom of the league into a Super Bowl contender.
After taking a gradual approach to fixing weaknesses, one analyst believes the team will take a bigger swing this offseason. Jeff Risdon of USA Today’s Lions Wire simulated two offseason scenarios: one in which the Lions stick with their prudent approach of repairing voids with minor roster moves, and another in which they pursue the “big splash” move – All-Pro defensive end Myles Garrett.
Lions’ Land Myles Garrett With Large Package of Picks
Risdon indicated that the Cleveland Browns are likely to keep their former NFL Defensive Player of the Year, despite his request for a trade. Risdon anticipated that the Browns would need a large number of draft picks from the Lions to make the deal worthwhile.
“While it’s not likely the Browns have any interest in moving Garrett, and the financial and salary cap details make it next to impossible for Cleveland to even try to deal Garrett, here’s what a Lions offseason could look like if Detroit and Cleveland somehow made it happen,” Risdon wrote in an email.
Risdon anticipated that the Lions would send two first-round picks, one from 2025 and the other from 2026, as well as third-round picks from the next two rounds and defensive tackle Brodric Martin. In exchange, they would receive Garrett, a fifth-round pick in 2025, and a second-round pick in 2026.
The Lions would undoubtedly face stiff competition to land the Browns standout. Garrett is at the pinnacle of his game, having made the Pro Bowl in each of the previous five seasons and garnering All-Pro honors in four of them.
Garrett may be a strong fit for the Lions, who have struggled to develop a consistent pass rush beyond star Aidan Hutchinson. Even though Hutchinson suffered a season-ending leg injury in October, no other player surpassed his 7.5 sacks until that point in the season.
Browns Expected to Hold Pat
As Risdon implied, the Browns might decline the trade offers and continue to build around Garrett. NFL source Daniel Jeremiah stated this week that other teams in the league feel the same way.
“In talking to folks around the league recently, the expectation has been, ‘No, they’re not going to transfer him. He’s not going anywhere. “We’ll see what happens,” Jeremiah remarked during a conference call with SB Nation’s Pride of Detroit.
That is unlikely to prevent the Lions from seeking a trade, Jeremiah added.
“Detroit has a roster that is poised to win right now, a championship-caliber team. “That could be the final piece,” Jeremiah stated. “I would be willing to be quite aggressive on that front if I were Brad Holmes, knowing that it may result in a parade in my city. I would be aggressive and do whatever it takes to make something like that happen.”
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