The Lions are expected to be aggressive ahead of the trade deadline, and the clearest need remains at cornerback. But Detroit shouldn’t stop there. If Brad Holmes is turning over every stone, the tight end depth chart is another place worth a hard look, especially with the Indianapolis Colts now making themselves available as sellers.
Indianapolis moved two pieces on Tuesday and looks poised to keep dealing before the deadline. That puts a contending market in play, and it’s the kind of setup that can create value for teams willing to shop carefully. One name that should catch Detroit’s attention: Mo Alie-Cox.
The Lions entered the season with the possibility of becoming more tight end-heavy under Drew Petzing, but that shift hasn’t really taken hold. According to Sumer Sports, their rate of “12” personnel sits at 24.1 percent, nearly in line with last season’s 22.6 percent, and their overall EPA efficiency is basically unchanged from a year ago.
That matters because Detroit already showed how much it values Brock Wright. In 2024, the Lions matched an out-of-nowhere offer sheet from the San Francisco 49ers to keep him. But the idea that Tyler Conklin could simply step in and bring more as the TE2 behind Sam LaPorta still hasn’t gained traction.
Alie-Cox, meanwhile, fits the kind of trade-deadline profile contenders can use. Any Colts player on an expiring contract, like Quenton Nelson and DeForest Buckner were, is fair game, and there are several names in that category. Alie-Cox stands out as a realistic option for Detroit.
He’s been in Indianapolis long enough to be part of the old Andrew Luck era, catching two touchdowns from Luck as a rookie. He hasn’t ever been a major factor in the passing game by targets or route participation, but he has consistently made the most of his chances and has held up as a blocker.
This season, Pro Football Focus has Alie-Cox graded as the 23rd-best tight end overall. His receiving grade is 74.5, which ranks in the top 20, and his run-blocking grade of 60.8 sits in the top 30 among 78 qualifiers.
Wright, by contrast, is outside the top 50 in overall grade and pass-blocking grade. Alie-Cox is also outside the top 50 in pass blocking, while Wright’s run-blocking grade lands just outside the top 30.
It’s not a perfect comparison, since Detroit has already had its bye and Indianapolis has not, but the two have played nearly the same number of snaps with similar snap shares.
Would trading for Alie-Cox and bumping Wright out of the TE2 role draw a few Spider-Man GIFs? Sure. But Wright is still vulnerable at that spot, and the Lions don’t currently have an internal answer ready to settle it.
In Other News...
Lions Just Got Put On The Spot In The NFC North
The NFC North suddenly has a different feel to it after Chicago swung a major deal for Jeffery Simmons, a move that tells the rest of the division the Bears are not content to wait their turn. For Detroit, it raises the kind of question contenders hate hearing this time of year: whether standing pat is enough when a rival has already made a clear bet on getting better.
The Lions have had their own issues on defense, especially in the secondary, and that makes the spotlight a little brighter now. If Detroit wants to keep pace in a division that is getting more aggressive, the conversation may soon turn to whether the front office needs to chase a cornerback at the top of the market to stabilize that side of the ball. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Fans Will Be Watching One Thing Closely In Vikings Showdown
The Lions Week 8 trip to Minnesota comes with a familiar name in charge of the officiating, as Craig Wrolstad will head the crew for Sundays game. Wrolstad has been a head referee since 2014, and Detroit fans have seen him before in a setting they remember well, including the franchises first playoff win in 30 years.
What may matter most this week is the way his crew has handled games so far this season. Wrolstads group has drawn attention for how often it reaches for the flag, and that kind of whistle-heavy profile can shape the flow of a divisional matchup in a hurry, especially in a game where every snap tends to carry a little extra weight. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Face A Trade Deadline Gamble At Cornerback
Cornerback has become a clear area to watch for the Lions as the Nov. 10 trade deadline approaches, and one name on the radar is Donte Jackson of the Los Angeles Chargers. ESPN has identified Detroit as one of Jacksons best fits, which at least gives a sense of how the market may view the Lions needs as they weigh whether to add help on the back end.
Jacksons availability still appears tied to his health after a hamstring issue has kept him out for stretches, though he was limited in Wednesdays practice. For Detroit, that makes this a deadline decision with some moving parts: a player who fits, a position that could use reinforcements, and no confirmation yet that the Lions will actually pull the trigger. [Read more 🡒]