The Detroit Lions have done a great job this offseason in building up their roster. After going 9-8 last season and just missing out on the playoffs, they should once again be in the mix in the NFC for at least a Wild Card spot. But, given the current state of the NFC North, Detroit could find themselves fighting for a division title.
Their defense was what needed the most work this offseason and the Lions have successfully upgraded that side of the ball. The secondary will receive a big boost with cornerbacks Cameron Sutton and Emmanuel Moseley and safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson.
With the backend now shored up, it is time for Detroit to get to work on fixing the front seven, namely the pass rush. 2022 first-round pick Aidan Hutchinson lived up to the hype as a rookie and James Houston came out of nowhere to produce as a pass rusher in the second half of the season.
Adding some help alongside those two in the 2023 NFL Draft would be ideal. Armed with the Nos. 6 and 18 picks in the first round, the Lions will certainly have the opportunity to do so. All that draft capital also means that they can get aggressive when making trades.
A pass rusher on the interior of their offensive line would be ideal. Could they swing a deal for arguably the best defender in the NFL to fill that void in Aaron Donald of the Los Angeles Rams?
While Rams’ general manager Les Snead has called this offseason a reset, it certainly looks like a rebuild. They have moved on from numerous veterans in an attempt to get their salary cap in order, acquiring draft capital to round out the depth on the roster. After flirting with retirement this offseason, Donald may no longer fit the Rams’ timeline.
He would fill a massive hole in the Lions’ defense, who could be without Levi Onwuzurike with his professional future up in the air. What could a trade between the Lions and Rams look like?
A suggested trade package over at ESPN is the Lions receiving Donald in exchange for a first and second-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, Nos. 18 and 25 overall. That price seems steep, but it would barely put a dent in the Lions’ coffers, as they would still have seven picks in this year’s draft and one in each of the first two rounds.
Adding a talent such as Donald to their front seven would transform Detroit’s defense. Combined with the other moves made this offseason, that unit would make massive leaps in 2023, making the Lions that much more dangerous of a team.
