The Detroit Lions have methodically constructed their roster over the past three seasons, transforming from a struggling franchise into a legitimate Super Bowl contender.
While the team has traditionally taken a measured approach to addressing roster needs, one analyst believes they could take a bigger swing this offseason. Jeff Risdon of USA Today’s Lions Wire explored two potential offseason strategies: one where the Lions stick to their usual conservative approach of filling gaps with calculated moves, and another where they make a bold splash by pursuing All-Pro defensive end Myles Garrett.
Lions Land Myles Garrett With Big Package of Picks
Risdon pointed out that while the Cleveland Browns would prefer to keep former NFL Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett, the star pass rusher had sought permission for a trade. However, acquiring him would require a significant haul of draft capital from the Lions to make the deal worthwhile for Cleveland.
“While it’s not likely the Browns have any interest in moving Garrett, and the financial and salary cap details make it next to impossible for Cleveland to even try to deal Garrett, here’s what a Lions offseason could look like if Detroit and Cleveland somehow made it happen,” Risdon wrote.
He projected that the Lions would send two first-round picks (2025 and 2026), third-round picks in each of the next two drafts, and defensive tackle Brodric Martin to Cleveland. In return, Detroit would receive Garrett along with a fifth-round pick in 2025 and a second-round pick in 2026.
If Garrett were available, the Lions would likely face stiff competition, given his dominance. He has been named to the Pro Bowl in each of the last five seasons and earned All-Pro honors in four of them.
Adding Garrett would be a major boost for the Lions, who have struggled to generate a consistent pass rush outside of Aidan Hutchinson. Even after Hutchinson’s season-ending leg fracture in October, no other Lions player surpassed his 7.5 sacks at the time of his injury.
Browns Expected to Hold Pat
As Risdon suggested, the Browns may ultimately reject trade offers and continue building around Myles Garrett. NFL insider Daniel Jeremiah echoed that sentiment, noting that many around the league believe Cleveland will hold onto their star defender.
“Everything in talking to people as of late around the league, the expectation is, ‘No, they’re not going to move him. He’s not going to go anywhere.’ We’ll see what happens,” Jeremiah said on a conference call, via SB Nation’s Pride of Detroit.
However, that likely won’t stop the Lions from pursuing a potential deal.
“Detroit has the roster that’s ready to win right now, ready to win a championship. That could be a finishing piece,” Jeremiah added. “I would be willing to be pretty aggressive if I were Brad Holmes on that front, knowing that could bring a parade to my city. I would be aggressive and do whatever I had to do to try and make something like that happen.”
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