The Detroit Lions are a team that many people are expecting to take another step forward during the 2023 season. They surprised a lot of people last season, going 9-8 and just missing out on the postseason. But, they have a lot of momentum entering 2023 as they won eight of their last 10 games, including a victory on the road in Lambeau Field against the rival Green Bay Packers to eliminate them from the postseason.
For the Lions to take that next step, they have to improve defensively. They made a concerted effort to upgrade that side of the ball, signing cornerbacks Cameron Sutton and Emmanuel Moseley and safety C.J. Garnder-Johnson to bolster the secondary.
In the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft, the Lions used one of their two selections on linebacker Jack Campbell out of Iowa. He will help shore up the second line of defense as a do-it-all linebacker.
While there is certainly some more work to do, as fixing every hole in one season is an impossibility, the Lions will be much improved on that side of the ball. Alas, should the opportunity to continue improving the unit present itself, Detroit would consider it.
Adding another emerging playmaker at the linebacker position certainly wouldn’t hurt. Alex Kay of Bleacher Report has suggested that the Lions make a move for Patrick Queen of the Baltimore Ravens.
“The Detroit Lions would be an ideal squad for Queen to sign his second NFL contract with. The Lions are on the cusp of contending after an extended period of rebuilding but still need some help at the linebacker spot. While the club did use a first-round pick on Jack Campbell, the aging Alex Anzalone is projected to start alongside the rookie this year. Anzalone will turn 30 next season and only earned a 59.2 PFF grade last year.
Pairing Queen and Campbell together would give the Lions a youthful linebacking corps brimming with upside. With Campbell locked into an affordable rookie deal through at least the 2026 season, Detroit should have no problem extending Queen shortly after trading for him. It’s a shrewd move that will greatly assist the team in its quest to return to the playoffs this year and beyond.”
Queen, a first-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, had the fifth-year option on his rookie contract declined. He has been a fixture in the Ravens’ defense since being selected, but the writing is on the wall about wanting to move on from him.
Baltimore acquired star Roquan Smith from the Chicago Bears last season and signed him to a record-setting extension. In the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft, the Ravens selected Clemson linebacker Trenton Simpson.
Kay suggested that the Lions send a 2024 second-round pick to the Ravens in exchange for Queen to get a deal done. He played at nearly an identical level as Smith last season, receiving a 70 PFF grade compared to 70.6 for Smith. Detroit could be getting an emerging star if they were able to complete a trade for Queen.
