The Detroit Lions have had a stellar offseason so far. If you ask Lions general manager Brad Holmes, the team has had the best free agency they've ever had. It's hard to argue with that. DJ Reader, Kevin Zeitler and Carlton Davis is a pretty good haul. But they didn't attack the edge like Lions fans were hoping they would.
The problem there being that they were so expensive this offseason. Ian Valentinio of The 33rd Team has a proposal for the Lions that would help them shore up their pass rush by trading for an All-Pro edge. Here's his trade:
Lions get: Haason Reddick
Eagles get: The 61st and 164th picks
Reddick would be quite the add for the Lions. He's coming off back to back Pro Bowl seasons with the Eagles and was an All-Pro in 2022. Reddick has had 10 or more sacks in his last four seasons with him logging 11 last year. He also has a good bill of health. Reddick hasn't missed a game since the 2020 season. Sign the Lions up for that one right?
Here's where things get sticky. The Lions would have to take on a $14.2 million cap hit in 2024 if they make this trade and since Reddick is going into the last year of his deal, he'll probably be looking for an extension. The Lions could realistically sign Reddick to that extension and lower his 2024 cap hit in the process, but how much will they have to pay him on that extension?
My guess is that it would be a similar deal to what DJ Reader just got. Two years for $27 million. That would make sense since he's 30-years-old and is coming off a three year deal that paid him $45 million. That would keep Reddick in Detroit until 2026.
I initially thought the trade value was a little lopsided. But it tracks with the trends of the league. The Seahawks just traded essentially the same package to the Giants for Leonard Williams. He is the same age and a similar caliber of player.
The trade value makes a lot of sense when you think of it this way. The Lions would be parting with their second-round pick, but Brad Holmes has already brought up the idea of trading out of the first round on multiple occasions. By trading down the Lions could almost recoup those picks and then some.
For example, I quickly threw together the scenario in the PFF mock draft simulator. I made the trade for Reddick and then traded the 29th pick down to the Steelers and walked out with their second pick and third-round picks. The value is there.
This is actually the perfect trade for the Lions and the Eagles. Everyone wins here. Now, will the Lions do it? That's the question. I think there's a solid chance for it. This is a move that would fit what the Lions like to do money wise. Short term and not too expensive. We'll see I suppose.
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