Lions Make Puzzling Call on Edge-Rusher at NFL Trade Deadline

The Detroit Lions defense needed help off the edge and in the secondary, where injuries and roster deficiencies combined to leave them lacking depth and high-end talent at both positions.

But instead of going after a big fish like Trey Hendrickson of the Cincinnati Bengals or taking a smaller swing, the Lions made a puzzling choice. They chose to do nothing.

The New York Jets sold off major players on their defense in Quinnen Williams and Sauce Gardner, which put edge-rusher Jermaine Johnson in the spotlight leading up to the deadline.

“Spotlight on the Jets in the final 75 minutes of the deadline after two massive deals,” ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler posted to X. “Teams say New York wants a 2nd for EDGE Jermaine Johnson, who has expected to stay with the team.”

The former first-round pick and Pro Bowler would have been some sort of answer across from Aidan Hutchinson, but after losing to the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday at home and falling to 5-3, the Lions instead chose inaction.

The move tracks with the team’s choice not to re-sign Za’Darius Smith to a contract this preseason, letting him leave for the Philadelphia Eagles before his eventual retirement.

Detroit now has only free agency by which it can add playmakers to a defense that is in clear need of some.

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