After the NFL trade deadline passed without any moves from the Detroit Lions, head coach Dan Campbell stated on Wednesday that the team considered several options to enhance its roster but ultimately found no trades justified the cost of their draft picks.
In a press conference following the deadline, Campbell explained, “There were some things here and there, but there was nothing that I would say was enough to be noteworthy. It was certainly more intriguing, but it wasn”t good enough. So, all good. All good and we”re ready to roll.”
As the deadline approached, the Lions found themselves in a unique position. Most roster spots feature sufficient depth, and with the exception of the secondary and offensive line, the starting units are relatively healthy. The team is also expecting to welcome back several defensive backs soon, emphasizing the offensive line as their primary concern. However, Campbell acknowledged that acquiring suitable players for that position during the season is particularly challenging.
While assessing potential trades, Campbell concluded that the players available did not warrant sacrificing a draft pick considering the talent already present on the team. The Lions are set to rely on several veteran players to fill the gap left by Christian Mahogany, who is sidelined until at least late December due to a leg injury.
“I feel good. My job is to get these guys ready to play on Sunday,” Campbell remarked. “We”ve got depth, we”ve got the dudes, we”ve got weapons, we”ve got a quarterback. I gotta do my part. I gotta get “em ready, and I gotta make sure we cross all the T”s and dot the I”s, and that we turn over every stone and make sure our guys are ready to roll.”
The Lions are considering adding players like Trystan Colon, Kayode Awosika, Kingsley Eguakun, and Michael Niese to their rotation in the coming week. Campbell noted the familiarity coaches have with their current players, stating, “You know your own guys. You”ve been around them. You know the greatness behind them, you know their warts, too, and we all got “em.”
Brad Holmes, the general manager, has gained a reputation for being cautious with draft picks, a strategy that has paid off as the Lions enjoy recent success directly linked to his effective drafting. In contrast, the Los Angeles Rams, where Holmes honed his skills, have been known for trading away draft capital in pursuit of immediate-impact players, a method that earned them a Super Bowl title in 2021.
As the Lions aim to remain competitive, there is a desire among some to see Holmes leverage future draft picks for immediate gains, especially with hopes for a Super Bowl run in 2025. However, Campbell pointed out that the team”s significant future salary cap commitments complicate such decisions, making major acquisitions challenging.
Campbell responded to speculation about the team”s willingness to make bold moves, stating, “When you start talking like that, like, throw all the picks away, that”s a lot. It”s a lot of capital, especially with guys that we”ve got that we”re signing; we want to continue to sign to keep what we have intact.”
He further emphasized the importance of long-term planning by saying, “If you”re buying a player for a year, then everything we plan for, you might as well throw in the trash. I don”t want to say “never.” There”s not a “never.””
