Despite expectations from the fanbase for an active trade deadline, the Detroit Lions stood pat as the rest of the league was involved in unexpectedly big transactions. The Lions were expected to be involved in trade talks for a pass rusher or an offensive lineman, but nothing materialized before Tuesday's deadline. Now, the Lions will enter the second half of the season with their current core.
While some Lions fans will be disappointed in the lack of transactions, the players won't feel the same way, especially ones who will have an increased role going forward. Among those is veteran backup Kayode Awosika, who is now in line to be in a starting role after the Lions didn't add an offensive lineman on Tuesday.
Kayode Awosika Is the Biggest Winner of Lions' Quiet Trade Deadline
The calls for an offensive line upgrade grew louder since last week as the Lions lost Christian Mahogany to injury. Taylor Decker and Penei Sewell also have injury concerns for Week 10 and beyond, even though they were able to finish the game against the Vikings. Adding a versatile and competent veteran into the mix to survive these injuries would have been wise. At the same time, finding a starting-caliber offensive lineman at this stage of the season without giving up a haul is presumably a difficult task.
The biggest beneficiary of these injuries will be Awosika and Trystan Colon, who are the two healthy backups on the interior offensive line. If Sewell or Decker misses time, it will be Dan Skipper taking over, but in Mahogany's absence, Awosika and Colon are the only options.
If Dan Campbell decides to move Graham Glasgow to left guard, Colon would likely get the start at center. While that remains an option, when Mahogany went down in Week 9, the Lions replaced him with Awosika, who played 12 snaps. Per Pro Football Focus, he was solid in those limited snaps, receiving a 62.9 overall grade and an 80.6 pass blocking grade. If the Lions don't want to shuffle things around too much, putting Awosika in at left guard and keeping everyone else in the position they were playing all season, the 27-year-old will have a great opportunity in the second half of the season.
Considering how Awosika has been in the Lions system for four seasons at this point is a big advantage for him over Colon. The former undrafted veteran has largely been used on special teams throughout his Lions tenure, but has started in at least two games each season. He is clearly trusted by the coaching staff and the organization if the Lions keep bringing him back. Now, this is his chance to prove his worth and earn another contract in the offseason, making him a clear winner of the week.