For the first time in years, the Detroit Lions are for real. They currently hold a 5-1 record, which is tied for the second-best mark in the NFL, and their offense is clicking.
Quarterback Jared Goff ranks in the top 10 of several offensive categories and has completed 69.5 percent of his pass attempts while throwing 11 touchdown passes, while third-year wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown has 455 yards and three touchdowns through four games. Meanwhile, starting running back David Montgomery has run for 385 yards while scoring six touchdowns, one more than his total through all of his season, in four contests. Unfortunately, Montgomery went down with an injury in Week 6.
But in the minds of many, Detroit isn’t a Super Bowl contender, and perhaps the biggest reason is it isn’t a top-flight defensive team. While it has been able to stop the run and has a stud in defensive lineman Aidan Hutchinson, its secondary is lacking, especially after the injury Chauncey Gardner-Johnson recently suffered.
Christopher Long of Total Pro Sports suggested that the Lions trade for safety Budda Baker of the Arizona Cardinals.
“Detroit is a team making a strong push this season,” wrote Long. “Behind quarterback Jared Goff and the team’s high powered offense, the Lions are looking at aspirations they haven’t had in a long time. Filling the void Gardner-Johnson leaves behind could be the perfect place for the explosive Baker, though the Lions may be hesitant to trade draft capital with as well as the team’s drafted as of late.”
Baker, who is 27 years of age, has made the Pro Bowl in five of his previous six seasons and has two All-Pro First Team selections to his name. He has seven career interceptions, all of which have come in the last three seasons prior to this one.
The Cardinals have a very weak roster, especially with quarterback Kyler Murray still recovering from the torn ACL he suffered last season, and with a 1-4 record this season, they have nothing to play for. Many have felt their best bet is to tank for a shot at drafting University of Southern California quarterback phenom Caleb Williams.
Perhaps trading Baker would help them accomplish that goal, if it is indeed a goal of theirs, and doing so would help the Lions with their goal of winning their first playoff game since the 1991 campaign.
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