The Detroit Lions are 3-2, and the path forward is pretty clear: if they want to turn a good start into a real playoff push, the defense has to get fixed. The offense is already carrying its weight. The problem is on the other side of the ball, and that’s where a trade could come into play.
ESPN’s Bill Barnwell floated a deal that would give Detroit exactly the kind of help it needs, sending two veterans from the Los Angeles Chargers to the Lions in exchange for draft capital.
“Lions get: Edge Khalil Mack, CB Donte Jackson. Chargers get: 2027 fourth- and sixth-round picks,” Barnwell proposed.
That kind of move would give Detroit a major boost in two spots at once. Mack would strengthen the pass rush, while Jackson would add help to a cornerback room that has been battered by injuries. Both players would arrive as short-term fixes, since each is set to hit free agency after the season.
For the Lions, that makes this more of a rental than a long-term investment. A fourth-round pick is no small price to pay for that kind of arrangement, but Barnwell’s framework gives Detroit two proven pieces in return, and that matters when the defense needs immediate repair.
The upside is obvious. Mack could line up next to Aidan Hutchinson and give the Lions another edge threat, which could keep some of the pressure off Hutchinson and make the front more dangerous overall. Jackson wouldn’t need to be a lockdown corner to help; he’d just need to steady the back end and bring some veteran reliability to a group that could use it.
Brian Branch’s return from injury also matters here. If Detroit can pair that with upgrades like Mack and Jackson, the defense doesn’t have to become elite overnight. It just has to become functional enough to match the offense.
And the timing makes sense. The Chargers are 0-6, so a sell-off would not be a surprise. If they do start moving players, Barnwell’s idea would give the Lions a clean way to address two defensive issues in one shot.
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