The Detroit Lions have tried for close to three years to add a competent pass-rushing counterpart for Aidan Hutchinson, finding only moderate success.
With a key injury to the team’s other starting defensive end, the Lions could feel even more urgency as the trade deadline approaches this year. One insider believes they can find help with the New Orleans Saints, who stumbled out to an 0-4 start this season and could look to sell off players at the upcoming deadline.
Lions Land 4.5-Sack Edge Rusher for Day 3 Pick
SI.com’s Matt Verderame suggested one trade for all 32 NFL teams ahead of this month’s deadline, suggesting the Lions could send a third-round pick to the Saints for edge rusher Carl Granderson.
Verderame noted that the Lions have always been in the market for more help in their pass-rushing game, and could find it in Granderson.
The Lions always seem connected to available pass rushers. For the most part, they make it work with what they have the opposite of Aidan Hutchinson,” Verderame wrote. “But you can never have enough pass rushers, and Detroit knows better than most teams after last yearâs injury wave how quickly depth can disappear from the deepest positions.”
Verderame called Granderson an “underrated” pass rusher who is having a productive season despite the defensive woes in New Orleans.
“Granderson, 28, is an underrated edge rusher who gets opposing offensive coordinators to scheme against him, which could provide advantageous opportunities for Hutchinson,” Verderame wrote. “Granderson has 4.5 sacks and 16 solo tackles this season.”
Lions Lose Key Player
The Lions are already shorthanded in their edge rushing group after starter Marcus Davenport was placed on injured reserve with a chest injury.
Davenport has dealt with a number of injuries in his career, leading to some criticism about his durability. He addressed that criticism before the start of the season, telling MLive.com that he has little patience for the criticism.
âShoot, of course I care. Man, look, I got a heart. My family reads stuff,” said Davenport. “And then thereâs the other aspect: [expletive] ’em. Honestly, I donât want to say I get mad, but most people that talk [expletive], I will not trade places with.â
The Lions have found some relief from backup Al-Quadin Muhammad, who has earned high marks for his play in relief of Davenport. He had a monster game against the Baltimore Ravens, racking up four total tackles and 2.5 sacks as the Lions hounded former MVP Lamar Jackson.
After the game, Lions head coach Dan Campbell gave Muhammad the game ball and the backup defensive end had a strong message for his teammates.
âI wanna thank every player, every coach, everybody thatâs in this organization, because about a year ago, I was home, I was on the couch,â Muhammad said to the rest of his team. âSo when you get a [expletive] opportunity, you make sure you take advantage of it. I wanna also thank the guys in my room for helping me out this week. Without them, I wouldnât have been able to do what I did tonight.â
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Lions Urged to Add ‘Underrated’ Edge Rusher at Trade Deadline appeared first on Heavy Sports.