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Detroit Lions NFL Trade Deadline Rumor Tracker 2024: Names to keep an eye on

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The 2024 NFL trade deadline is still about a week away and the Detroit Lions are a known buyer.

The Lions (6-1), currently the No. 1 seed in the NFC, are looking to bolster their roster to compete for the franchise's first Super Bowl appearance. The Lions have overcome major injuries on defense, including an expected season-ending leg injury to star pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson, and need pass rush support for the second half of the season and the playoffs. (A few weeks ago we highlighted seven names to keep an eye on.)

The NFL trade deadline is Tuesday, November 5th at 4pm ET, the day of the US election. Lions general manager Brad Holmes has shown he is willing to make a midseason move after sending tight end TJ Hockenson to the Minnesota Vikings in 2022 and acquiring wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones from the Cleveland Browns last year has.

TRENDING: The Lions are the most aggressive team in the NFL and are built to succeed in the playoffs

Here are the latest updates on the 2024 NFL trade deadline.

Dan Campbell says the trade “could” be coming

Lions coach Dan Campbell said Monday from Allen Park that the team is still exploring options on the trade front. Asked if he felt a deal was imminent, Campbell replied: “It could be. Yes, that could be the case.”

When a reporter asked if Holmes had come to him with a deal, Campbell playfully jumped in the air and said, “Yes, that could be it.”

Edge rusher Josh Uche moved to the Chiefs

The Kansas City Chiefs were the first team to enter the edge rusher market. On Monday, the NFL's last undefeated team sent a 2026 sixth-round pick to the New England Patriots in exchange for outside linebacker and former Michigan football player Josh Uche. It is the third trade involving a defensive player in the NFL this year and the first involving an edge rusher.

Maxx Crosby and Raiders owner refute trade rumors

Michigan native and Eastern Michigan graduate Maxx Crosby is one of the NFL's best pass rushers on one of the worst teams, the Las Vegas Raiders. But he said he wanted to remain a Raider, and Las Vegas owner Mark Davis told ESPN flatly that a Crosby trade would not happen. Therefore, it's likely that Crosby and his 6½ sacks in seven games this season will remain in the Sin City.

Oct. 18: Za'Darius Smith invites trade with the Lions

Cleveland Browns defensive end Za'Darius Smith told a Cleveland Browns reporter that it “could look good” if he was traded to the Lions. The Browns (2-6) are well out of the playoff race and could look to release a veteran like Smith, who is 33, in exchange for draft picks.

Defensive ends the Lions could target

Aside from Smith, the Browns are highly unlikely to trade superstar Myles Garrett, but they could trade another edge rusher from their deep front seven like Ogbo Okoronkwo. NFL.com also listed Denver Broncos edge rusher Baron Browning, who is in the final year of his contract, as a potential player who could be moved. The Athletic reported that Jadaveon Clowney of the Panthers and Preston Smith of the Packers are two other edge rushers expected to draw interest from players. USA Today also added Dolphins defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah.

Do the Lions need to trade for another position?

That option is always on the table for Holmes, but it doesn't seem necessary for the Lions as one of the NFL's best teams. The Lions were able to utilize reserves at all three levels of defense and find ways to make it work without Hutchinson, Marcus Davenport and Derrick Barnes on the front seven lines.

The Lions could try to add a strong linebacker to replace Barnes, but have utilized a linebacker room that Lions coaches collectively describe as the deepest group they have ever seen. They have increased production from Malcolm Rodriguez, who left the win over the Titans early with an ankle injury, as well as Jalen Reeves-Maybin and Trevor Nowaske, as well as starters Alex Anzalone and Jack Campbell. The Lions utilized a lot of resources in the secondary during the offseason, and it paid off as a healthy group transformed into a turnover machine.

Offensively, they have depth at tackle and the interior offensive line position and showed that depth at receiver on Sunday without Jameson Williams as he served the first of his two-game suspension. Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery combined for 1,006 rushing yards and even Hendon Hooker took snaps in two blowout wins to gain some experience behind Jared Goff, who was dishing out.

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