The Detroit Lions may not be done making moves just because the preseason is winding down.
A year ago, they pulled off a late summer surprise by dealing wide receiver Tim Patrick to the Jacksonville Jaguars for a draft pick. With training camp closing and the roster trimdown to 53 players looming again, another trade before cut-down day would not be out of character.
This time, three names stand out as possible trade chips rather than straightforward cuts: quarterback Hendon Altmyer, defensive lineman Levi Onwuzurike and linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez.
Altmyer has quietly put together a preseason that has drawn attention, enough that teams looking for a backup or emergency third quarterback could come calling. He is currently battling veteran Josh Dobbs for the No. 2 job behind center. That matters, because a team that likes Altmyer’s upside might try to strike a deal before he gets exposed to the waiver process, where a higher-priority team could swoop in and claim him.
For Detroit, the logic is pretty clear. Dobbs brings the kind of experience and proven production that fits a team with Super Bowl aspirations, which makes the backup job a better fit for him than a young developmental quarterback. That leaves Altmyer as the kind of player another team could target if it wants to keep him in the building and work with him as a project.
Onwuzurike is another player who could draw interest. The former second-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft has always had talent, but injuries have repeatedly slowed his progress. He is expected to have a role on the roster this season, but rookie Skyler Gill-Howard has emerged as someone worth a serious look as the regular season approaches.
If another team has a greater need along the defensive interior, the Lions could decide Onwuzurike is the kind of player they can move for a draft pick.
Rodriguez presents a similar kind of conversation. He has been a steady homegrown contributor and should have a place on this year’s team, but the linebacker group has become more crowded.
Detroit added Devin White on a one-year deal after injuries hit earlier in camp, and that signing has worked out well so far. Rookie Jimmy Rolder could also enter the mix once he is healthy.
That makes Rodriguez look like the sort of player who could have value elsewhere. He has been dependable, but with White in the fold and Rolder waiting for his chance, the Lions may find that another team is willing to pay for that stability rather than watch him hit the market for nothing.
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