The Lions missed out on Joey Porter Jr., and that’s the kind of move that can send a fan base straight into the trade machine. But there’s still plenty of time before the NFL’s Nov. 10 deadline, and for Detroit, the real question is which teams might actually be willing to deal.
That’s the tricky part with in-season trades. A team has to be ready to part with a player who can help right now, and that usually means a front office is comfortable taking a short-term hit.
That’s not a given. Coaches and general managers trying to protect their jobs rarely love the idea of making the roster worse in the present just to collect future picks.
Then there’s the money. Even when a team decides it wants out, the contract has to make sense for both sides.
If a player is young, productive, and locked into a big extension, moving him can create real salary-cap pain, especially if there’s a pile of guaranteed money still on the books. In plenty of cases, that’s enough to keep a player off the market entirely.
So while it’s too early to know which clubs will be buying and which ones will be selling, there are still names worth watching for Lions fans. Cornerback and safety are the spots to focus on, too, since defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard’s scheme leans heavily on dependable safety play and the depth at both positions looks thin for 2026 and beyond.
At cornerback, Greg Newsome II of the New York Giants is one to monitor. He’s 26, on a one-year contract, and the Giants are banged up enough that they could become deadline sellers if the losses keep piling up. Newsome, a former first-round pick by the Cleveland Browns in 2021, has the size teams like at 6-foot and 192 pounds.
Garrett Williams, now with the Arizona Cardinals, also fits the profile. He’s 25 and in the final year of his rookie deal after going in the third round in 2023.
If Arizona’s new regime decides it doesn’t want to keep him beyond 2026, moving him now could bring back draft compensation. Williams also returned in Week 3 after an Achilles injury suffered in 2025.
Donte Jackson is another possible rental. The 31-year-old is with the Los Angeles Chargers on the final year of a two-year deal. He brings eight years of NFL experience and could make sense if Detroit wants a short-term answer, with the possibility of bringing him back later on a shorter deal that includes guarantees in 2027.
Mike Hughes, who spent 16 games with Detroit in 2022, is under contract with the Atlanta Falcons in year two of a three-year deal. He’s been productive since entering the league in 2018, and the structure of his contract gives Atlanta flexibility. There’s no guaranteed money left after 2026, which would leave only a $1.666M dead cap hit if he were cut.
Julius “JuJu” Brents of the Miami Dolphins is another name with upside. He’s 26, in the final year of a two-year contract, and was a second-round pick by the Indianapolis Colts.
At 6-foot-3 and 198 pounds, he has the kind of physical tools that stand out. He’s mostly an outside corner now, though he did play some safety in college and has shown urgency in run support.
Deonte Banks rounds out the cornerback list. The 25-year-old is with the New York Giants in year four of his rookie contract, and he could be on the move if the Giants decide to sell.
Banks has the ideal frame at 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds, but he has not put it all together yet as a pro. New York also declined his fifth-year rookie option, which means he would become an unrestricted free agent in 2027.
On the safety side, Andrew Wingard of the Arizona Cardinals is a practical name to keep in mind. He’s 30, on a one-year deal, and has been around since signing as an undrafted free agent in 2019. He’s not a splashy addition, but with Detroit’s safety room looking thin, he could provide useful depth while Brian Branch works back from the Achilles injury he suffered late last season.
Jesse Bates II is the bigger swing. The 29-year-old Atlanta Falcons safety is in the final year of a four-year contract and has long been one of the league’s better all-around safeties.
By the time the 2027 season begins, he’ll be 30, but he could still be a strong short-term fit and a player the Lions might want to bring back on a deal with meaningful guarantees. In the short term, he’d help immediately.
Longer term, he could give Detroit a partner for Branch while the team sorts out the future of the position.
In Other News...
Panthers Hit With New NFL Discipline Right Before Lions Game
The Panthers are dealing with a little added noise before their matchup with the Lions, as the NFL handed down fines to three Carolina players for penalties committed in Week 3 against Cleveland. A.J. Dillon was fined for a facemask, Lee Hunter for unsportsmanlike conduct tied to taunting, and Thomas Incoom for unnecessary roughness involving helmet use.
None of the three was suspended, so Carolina will still have its full group available when it lines up against Detroit. Even so, the discipline serves as a reminder that the league is watching closely, and the Lions will face a Panthers team trying to keep its edge without letting the extra attention spill into Sunday. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Suddenly Face A Sam LaPorta Question They Couldn't Settle
The Lions and Sam LaPorta have hit pause on contract-extension talks after several weeks of negotiations failed to produce a deal, a familiar sort of detour for a franchise that has not shied away from working on its own timeline. LaPortas side decided to step back for now so the tight end can stay focused on the season, leaving open the possibility that the conversation picks up again once the games are over.
For Detroit, the situation turns one of its most important young pieces into an offseason question again, even if the door is not closed. The team has a history of handling contracts during the season, and it would not be a surprise if it tries again to keep LaPorta in place long term, especially with the chance that any agreement could land him among the leagues highest-paid tight ends. [Read more 🡒]
Isaac TeSlaa Has A Real Chance To Build On Last Week
Isaac TeSlaa finally gave the Lions a glimpse of what he can add to the passing game last week, finishing with four catches for 66 yards against the Jets. For a second-year receiver still trying to carve out a steadier role, it was the kind of outing that can change how a coaching staff looks at the depth chart from one week to the next.
The next opportunity looks even more inviting against Carolina, which has already lost two starting cornerbacks to injured reserve. With Detroit likely looking to keep feeding TeSlaa after his uptick in involvement, betting analyst Drew Ellis is expecting him to top his receiving total from last week, a sign that this might be more than a one-game spike for a young player trying to force his way into the offense. [Read more 🡒]