Coming into the 2023 season, there was a lot of optimism surrounding the Detroit Lions. A lot of people thought that they could challenge for a playoff spot, a drought that started in 2017. But, even the most optimistic of supporters probably didn’t see this coming.
The Lions have been one of the most dominant teams in the NFL through Week 6 of the season. They are 5-1 after picking up an impressive road victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this past weekend, already holding a commanding 2.5-game lead in the NFC North.
Just as the Minnesota Vikings did last season, Detroit looks poised to run away with a division title, which would be their first since the 1993 season when they won the NFC Central. They have cemented themselves as contenders in the NFC, as they are playing excellently on both sides of the ball.
The Lions are not going to rest on their laurels, as they know the job is far from complete. A 5-1 start is great, but it doesn’t mean anything if they aren’t in the same position in December and January.
Looking to ensure there isn’t a slip in production, the Lions should be active ahead of the October 31st trade deadline. They have played very well, but there are certainly some areas of the team that could use some reinforcements.
One of those areas is the cornerback position, which is why Mike Jones of The Athletic has suggested the Lions look to make a blockbuster deal. One trade he would like to see is Detroit bringing star cornerback Patrick Surtain of the Denver Broncos to the Motor City.
“The Lions are positioning themselves to win the NFC North, but Emmanuel Moseley’s torn right ACL suffered last week (in his first game back from a torn left ACL) is a big blow. They’d love to have another difference-maker in their secondary as they try to gear up for a deep playoff run. People around the league say the Broncos are in sell mode (even if Sean Payton says they’re not). So, future picks to help improve a Broncos roster that’s not nearly as close to win-now mode as Denver’s brass believed may prove enticing.”
The trade package that Jones suggested was Detroit sending a 2024 second-round pick and a 2025 third-round pick to Denver in exchange for Surtain. That may not be enough to get a deal done, as the Broncos likely view Surtain as the best cornerback in the NFL and will hold out for a first-round pick, in addition to a mid-round pick, in exchange for him.
Even that price is one that the Lions should be willing to meet. Surtain is already a star and in Year 3 of his rookie deal, he provides immense value as he is outproducing what he is earning. After landing multiple premium picks from the Los Angeles Rams in the Matthew Stafford deal, trading away a premium pick is something general manager Brad Holmes can afford.
Adding Surtain to this ascending defense would solidify that unit. Already showing marked improvements from last season, Surtain would be icing on the cake for Aaron Glenn’s defense.
