By every objective and subjective measure, the Detroit Lions have one of the three best offenses in pro football. Jared Goff has too many weapons at his disposal, and offensive coordinator Drew Petzing has been a great hire.
The defense, on the other hand, is suspect at best. Aidan Hutchinson is great; they've held their own against the run, but they can't cover in coverage. That can all be fixed if general manager Brad Holmes is up for it.
Notably, he won't even have to come up with a trade. Fortunately for him, ESPN's Bill Barnwell already did that, putting up a mock that would send Khalil Mack and Donte Jackson to Detroit in exchange for 2027 fourth- and sixth-round picks.
The Lions must pull off a big trade with the Chargers
"Guess who could use an edge rusher and a cornerback? The Lions," writes Barnwell. "The Lions have the league's second-best offense in terms of points scored per drive, but the defense needs help. And here Detroit adds two experienced starters on that side of the ball, giving the team a better shot at competing in what's going to be a dogfight in the NFC North."
This is a match made in heaven and the perfect opportunity for every party involved. The Chargers are 0-6 and won't make the playoffs, so they might as well get as much value in return for their assets as they possibly can.
Mack and Jackson are on expiring deals, and there will be no shortage of suitors for their services. By sending them to the NFC North, they won't even have to deal with them, and they won't do any conference or divisional rivals any favors, knowing the Lions might keep one of them (or both) for the long run.
Jackson is a true ballhawk. He'd be a massive upgrade to the Lions' sloppy cornerback room, and he's on an expiring, team-friendly deal that would be easy to accommodate on the books. He's still got something left in the tank, and they could even bring him back for another season.
As for Mack, what's not to like here? We're talking about a future first-ballot Hall of Famer, one of the greatest pass rushers of his generation, and a guy who might finally elevate the Lions' pass rush to an elite level opposite Hutchinson.
Mack is on an expiring deal, and this was presumably his last season. That said, playing for a legitimate Super Bowl contender might convince him to roll it back for another year, and he'd be a perfect mentor to Derrick Moore.
The former Defensive Player of the Year is still a force in coverage, against the run, and a headhunter. He's been one of the few bright spots on Jim Harbaugh's team this season, and even if the Lions must part ways with multiple picks to get him and Jackson in the building, this is a potential season — and franchise— altering move.
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