The success of the Detroit Lions this season has been well-documented. It’s unlike anything anyone has ever seen from this franchise before, and the rest of the NFL is starting to pick up on the fact the Lions are a really good football team.
At the time of this writing, the Lions would finish as the NFC’s No. 2 seed, right behind the Philadelphia Eagles, if the playoffs started today.
Of course, the playoffs are still more than two months away from starting, but it’s clear Detroit is among the conference’s best teams.
However, general manager Brad Holmes and the Lions were oddly passive during last week’s trade deadline. While other NFC contenders like the San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks and Eagles all addressed areas of weakness, Detroit sat back and watched other teams take their potential playoff runs seriously.
Holmes and Detroit did make a trade, acquiring Donovan Peoples-Jones from the Cleveland Browns in exchange for a 2025 sixth-round pick, but it seems there was plenty of meat left on the bone. There was likely more meat left on the bone than was eaten.
The 8-1 Eagles added All-Pro safety Kevin Byard.
The 5-3 Seahawks traded for veteran defensive tackle Leonard Williams.
And perhaps the one that stung the most was when the 5-3 49ers acquired former No. 2 overall pick Chase Young from the Washington Commanders in exchange for a 2024 third-round draft pick.
Yes, you read that right. The former Ohio State star, one of the most talked-about prospects coming out of college, was acquired by one of the NFC’s leading contenders in exchange for only a third-round pick.
Great for the 49ers, but it certainly makes you wonder why the Lions didn’t make an offer at Young — the asking price wasn’t high — or any other defensive end, for that matter.
It’s not like the defensive end is a weakness of the Lions’ by any means — Detroit has its own former No. 2 overall pick in Aidan Hutchinson — but pairing a stud pass rusher on the other side of the defensive front would cause opposing offensive lines nightmares.
Imagine Hutchinson and Young on opposite sides of the line. Pick your poison, opposing offensive lines. Either way, you’re going to lose.
The biggest advantage having two elite pass rushers provides a team is neither can be double-teamed without leaving the other in a one-on-one situation. As things currently stand, Hutchinson is being doubled much more than the Lions would probably like, and since Detroit doesn’t have a consistent threat on the other side of the line, teams can get away with doubling No. 97.
All in all, is missing out on Young a huge deal? No.
After all, Lions fans would rather complain about being too passive at the trade deadline than complain about the on-field product.
But if the Lions are looking to be serious contenders in the NFC and potentially make a run at the Super Bowl, being passive is the last thing Holmes and the team need to be.
I still believe Detroit will win the NFC North and host a playoff game at Ford Field for the first time. However, I think the passivity shown at the trade deadline will haunt the Lions either in that opening-round game or the Divisional Round of the playoffs.
