The Lions may not have landed Joey Porter Jr., but that doesn’t mean the trade market is off the table.
Pittsburgh sent the former second-round pick to the Dallas Cowboys for a 2027 sixth-round pick and a 2028 second-round pick, a move that only sharpens the attention on what Detroit could chase before the NFL’s 2026 trade deadline on Nov. 10.
In-season deals are tricky business. A team has to be willing to weaken itself in the present, and that usually takes a front office with real confidence in its own security.
On top of that, the money has to line up cleanly enough for both sides to walk away satisfied.
That’s why some players simply never become realistic options.
Still, for Lions fans, there are names worth tracking. And because defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard’s scheme leans so heavily on reliable safety play, the list includes both cornerbacks and safeties. Depth at both spots is a real concern when looking ahead to 2026 and beyond.
At cornerback, one possible target is Greg Newsome II of the New York Giants. The 26-year-old is on a one-year contract, and with New York battered by injuries, the Giants could become sellers if the losses keep piling up. Newsome, a former first-round pick by the Cleveland Browns in the 2021 NFL Draft, is listed at 6-foot and 192 pounds and has the kind of size teams like on the outside.
Garrett Williams of the Arizona Cardinals is another name to watch. The 25-year-old is in the final season of his rookie deal after being selected in the third round in 2023. He returned in Week 3 after an Achilles injury suffered in 2025, and if Arizona’s new regime doesn’t view him as part of the long-term picture after the 2026 season, he could be a player they look to move for draft value.
Donte Jackson, now with the Los Angeles Chargers, also fits the rental category. He’s 31 and in the last year of the two-year deal he signed with the Chargers. That makes him more of a short-term answer unless Detroit wanted to revisit him on another deal down the line.
Mike Hughes is a little different. The Atlanta Falcons corner is in year two of a three-year contract, and he’s no stranger to Detroit after appearing in 16 games for the Lions in 2022. Hughes has been productive since entering the league in 2018, and while his contract runs through 2027, Atlanta has an out after 2026 with no remaining guaranteed money, which would leave only a $1.666M dead cap hit if he were released.
Then there’s Julius “JuJu” Brents of the Miami Dolphins. He’s 26, in the final year of a two-year contract, and brings the kind of frame teams covet at 6-foot-3 and 198 pounds. A former second-round pick by the Indianapolis Colts, Brents has mostly played outside corner so far, but he did see some safety work in college and has shown urgency in run support.
Deonte Banks, also with the Giants, is another possible candidate. The 25-year-old is in year four of his rookie deal, and New York declined to pick up his fifth-year option, which means he would become an unrestricted free agent in 2027. At 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds, Banks has the tools, even if he still hasn’t fully put it together as a pro.
On the safety side, Andrew Wingard of the Arizona Cardinals stands out as a value play. The 30-year-old is on a one-year contract and has been around since entering the league as an undrafted free agent in 2019. He’s not a headline-grabber, but with Detroit’s safety room looking thin, he could make sense as a steady option until Brian Branch returns from the Achilles injury he suffered late last season.
Jesse Bates II is the bigger swing. The Atlanta Falcons safety is in the final year of a four-year contract and remains one of the league’s best all-around players at the position. He’ll be 30 when the 2027 season begins, but he could still be a fit on a short-term deal with significant guarantees, giving Detroit an immediate boost and a possible long-term pairing with Branch while the team sorts out the future.
Amani Hooker of the Tennessee Titans is another strong name to circle. He signed a second extension with Tennessee in 2025 and is under contract through the 2028 season.
He’s 28, one year younger than Bates, and carries a manageable cap hit of $13M in 2027 and $16M in 2028. A former Iowa Hawkeye, Hooker is a free safety in his prime, and his mix of performance and contract structure makes him the kind of player worth considering at the cost of a Day 2 pick, especially with uncertainty surrounding Kerby Joseph’s status in 2026 and beyond.
In Other News...
Dan Campbell Hinted At Big Lions Roster Decisions Before Carolina
With a short week leading into Carolina, Dan Campbell spent part of his pregame update signaling that the Lions still have some roster chess to play. Detroit is in trade talks for Joey Porter Jr., while safety Brian Branch is nearing a return to practice, and Campbell also made clear that he remains confident in linebacker Jack Campbell even after a slow start to the season. The message was less about the headlines than the direction: the Lions are still sorting out how their defense wants to look as the schedule tightens.
The immediate assignment, though, is straightforward enough. Detroit is focused on keeping Bryce Young from settling in, and Campbell said the biggest defensive concern beyond that is handling tight ends in the middle of the field. He also raised the possibility of rookie linebacker Jimmy Rolder getting defensive snaps, a reminder that the Lions may not be done adjusting the group as they balance short-term needs with longer-term decisions. [Read more 🡒]
Brian Branch Return Timeline Just Got A Lot More Interesting
Brian Branchs path back to the field is starting to come into focus, and that matters for a Lions defense that has had to wait out one of its most important young pieces. The safety is close to returning from the Achilles injury he suffered last season, according to Dan Campbell, after beginning the year on the Physically Unable to Perform list. If the timeline holds, Branch is expected to be eligible to return to practice next week, a first step toward getting him back in the mix.
What happens after that will be the part Detroit is watching most closely. The Lions would then have the 21-day window to work through before deciding on activation, and Kelvin Sheppards recent comments about the defense and its preparation only add to the sense that the unit is bracing for a potentially meaningful addition. For a team trying to keep its defensive rhythm intact, Branchs return would be one of the more notable developments on the horizon. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Could Have Tough Trade Calls If Young Talent Keeps Rising
The Lions are heading toward the trade deadline in an unusual spot for a team still trying to build something lasting: they are expected to be buyers, but they also have to keep sorting through which veterans and depth pieces fit the roster long term. As Detroit evaluates its options, cornerback Amani Oruwariye, defensive lineman Levi Onwuzurike and offensive lineman Logan Stenberg have surfaced as names to watch, especially if the front office decides a roster spot or draft asset can be better used elsewhere.
What makes the calculus trickier is that the answer may not be about those players alone. The Lions also have to factor in how younger talent is coming along and whether injuries create new pressure points before the deadline arrives. If those developments keep breaking the right way, Detroit could find itself making some difficult calls on useful pieces rather than simply adding help. [Read more 🡒]