Despite loud calls from the fanbase about the need to trade for a pass rusher at the deadline, the Detroit Lions chose to stand pat. GM Brad Holmes seemingly didn't find a trade that he particularly liked and decided that keeping the core intact was the better move ahead of the second half of the season. While it can be difficult and expensive to find true difference makers in-season, the Lions missed out on an impactful defender that could have been acquired for a reasonable price.
How Detroit missed out on Jaelan Phillips was a talking point, but it's understandable if the front office thought beating Philadelphia's offer of a third-round pick was too hefty a price. The bigger problem, however, could be not beating the Baltimore Ravens' offer for Dre'Mont Jones. The Ravens gave up a conditional fifth-round pick for the veteran pass rusher, and the Lions may regret not being the team to acquire him.
Lions Should Have Beaten the Ravens' Offer for Dre'Mont Jones
Jones had 4.5 sacks for the Titans in his last four games. He hasn't missed a game for the third straight season and has five tackles for loss and nine QB hits while playing over 70% of Tennessee's defensive snaps. Jones owns a Pro Football Focus defensive grade of 64.5 and a pass rush grade of 67.5, his best marks since 2021. He has been playing some of the best football of his career this season and could have certainly boosted Detroit's pass rush rotation.
To make the acquisition even more appealing for the Lions, Jones is on a one-year, $10 million deal. They could have moved on from him after the season without any financial ramifications. If they were happy with his production, they could have signed him to another team-friendly, one-year contract.
Instead, the Lions now have to hope that they don't suffer any more injuries to their defensive line. Marcus Davenport and Josh Paschal are currently sidelined without a clear timetable for their return. Detroit has Tyrus Wheat and Tyler Lacy in the pass rush rotation behind Aidan Hutchinson and Al-Quadin Muhammad. This group has punched above its weight all season, especially with Muhammad emerging as a standout.
Yet, the depth in the position is less than convincing, and considering the importance of the position and how most Super Bowl contenders have multiple proven pass rushers, the Lions can't be very comfortable with the rotation. Adding Jones into that mix would have certainly helped, and let's hope that the unwillingness to part ways with a fifth-round pick doesn't come back to bite Detroit.