Buckle Up, Detroit Lions Fans: Things Are About To Get Real As Lions Trade for Pro Bowl Edge Rusher at….See Details
The Detroit Lions are off to a solid start to the 2024 campaign, as the team is 3-1 coming off their Week 5 bye week after an impressive 42-29 win over the Seattle Seahawks in Week 4, and the offense looks to be one of the better units in the NFL.
Though Ben Johnson’s offense is highly effective, Detroit’s defense has a major question mark along the edge outside of Aidan Hutchinson, who is off to a phenomenal start to the 2024 campaign.
After a season-ending injury to Marcus Davenport and a clear shortage of depth at edge rusher, the Lions must acquire a standout pass rusher opposite Hutchinson, so The 33rd Team’s Jeff Diamond predicted the team will pull off a blockbuster trade for disgruntled New York Jets edge rusher Haason Reddick.
Plenty of teams need help rushing the passer, including the Lions, who have Super Bowl aspirations. However, the pass defense could be their undoing, as it was last season. Detroit ranks 27th in pass defense and has only 11 sacks (tied for 19th) through five games. Aidan Hutchinson has 6.5 sacks, and no other Lion has reached two sacks.
The Lions have plenty of cap room this year ( more than $40 million) and in 2025 to take on Reddick’s $14.25 million base salary and extend his contract. They are missing a third-round pick in next year’s draft, but it may only take a fourth or fifth-rounder to get Reddick from the Jets, who probably want to rid themselves of his contract drama. They face a tough challenge to repeat in the league’s best division, currently led by the unbeaten Vikings. I think they’ll see Reddick as a difference-maker who would significantly improve their pass rush.
Reddick has been one of the most dominant pass rushers in the league over the last few seasons, totaling four consecutive years with double-digit sacks seasons dating back to 2020, including a 16-sack season in 2022.
The 2017 first-round pick would complement Aidan Hutchinson perfectly and give the Lions a championship-caliber pass rush.
Trade compensation for Reddick shouldn’t be too difficult for general manager Brad Holmes to figure out, but the two-time Pro Bowler’s contract demands will be tough to navigate. Reddick has made it clear that he won’t step on the field without an extension, as the former Eagle will be an unrestricted free agent next offseason.
Though Detroit will have to pay Reddick premium money, it’s well worth it, as the 30-year-old consistently produces quality numbers, and the Lions have over $40 million in cap space, per Spotrac.
Reddick would be an immediate game-changer for Dan Campbell’s squad, possibly making the team a Super Bowl favorite.
Detroit Lions fans, it’s time to fasten your seat belts because the next stretch of games is going to be a wild ride. This Sunday, the Lions (3-1) will hit the road to face the Dallas Cowboys in a matchup that could have serious playoff implications down the line. But that’s just the beginning.
After a strong start to the season, the Lions are about to face one of the toughest stretches in their schedule, with four of their next five games on the road. The combined record of these upcoming (road game) opponents is a staggering 15-5, meaning Detroit will be in for a series of high-stakes battles that could shape their entire season.
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- Week 6: At Dallas Cowboys – The Detroit Lions will take on the Cowboys in a critical matchup. A win on the road against a playoff-caliber team would give Detroit a big boost in the NFC standings.
- Week 7: At Minnesota Vikings – After Dallas, the Lions will head to Minnesota to face the currently undefeated Vikings. In their first divisional matchup of the year, the Lions will look to assert dominance in the NFC North.
- Week 8: Vs. Tennessee Titans – The hope is that after touch matchups against the Cowboys and Vikings, a home matchup against a below-average Titans team could be just what that doctor ordered. That said, this could also be looked at as the ultimate trap game with matchups at the Packers and at the Texans coming up.
- Week 8: At Green Bay Packers – Another huge NFC North showdown at Lambeau Field. The Packers have proven to be a tough out at home, and the Lions will need to bring their A-game to leave Green Bay with a win.
- Week 9: At Houston Texans – The final road game in this grueling stretch will see the Lions take on an up-and-coming Texans team in primetime.
Bottom Line: The Detroit Lions Are Facing A Touch Stretch
This series of road games could go a long way in determining the Lions’ playoff hopes. With a chance to make a major statement in the NFC, Detroit has everything to play for. Buckle up, Lions fans—things are about to get real.
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