The Lions are four weeks from the trade deadline, and the clearest place to upgrade is hard to miss: the defensive backfield.
Detroit is 3-2 coming out of its bye, with division games against the Packers and Vikings up next. The start has kept the Lions in the hunt for a third NFC North title in four years, but the defense is still the piece that could determine how far this group goes. That leaves general manager Brad Holmes with a chance to shop for help before the Nov. 10 deadline.
One possible path is a cornerback rental in Tariq Woolen. He signed a one-year deal with the Eagles this offseason after building a strong early career in Seattle, but Philadelphia is now 2-4 and Jalen Hurts is on injured reserve, so the team could move into seller mode. Woolen’s numbers through six games aren’t eye-popping, but he comes with a Super Bowl ring from last season and should not cost a fortune.
Another name that keeps popping up is Kristian Fulton. He’s in the final year of his deal with the Chiefs, where a crowded cornerback room also includes veteran L’Jarius Sneed and first-round pick Mansoor Delane.
Kansas City is undefeated, but its depth at the position could make Fulton available. For Detroit, he would fit as the clear No. 2 corner behind D.J.
Reed and give the secondary another steady veteran presence.
The biggest swing on the board may be Jamel Dean. Tampa Bay is off to a 1-5 start after losing in overtime to the Steelers, and that could push the Buccaneers toward moving some of their pricier pieces.
Dean would not come cheap, though. He is attached to a three-year, $48 million extension that runs through 2028, and Detroit still has Sam LaPorta and Brian Branch to sort out on the financial side.
That kind of contract would make this a tougher deal to pull off.
There are also some less expensive or more flexible options if the Lions want to cast a wider net. Donte Jackson has missed the last two games with a hamstring injury, but he brings experience in multiple schemes and, if healthy, would be a useful addition. The Chargers are off to an 0-6 start, which could open the door to calls on Tarheeb Still and Cam Hart, though Jackson is the most realistic of that group because he is in the final year of his contract.
Kelee Ringo fits more as a flier than a headline move. He has mostly been used on special teams this season and has not produced much on defense in his career with the Eagles.
Still, he was once viewed as one of the top corners in the 2023 draft, and Detroit could try to unlock something by giving him a real chance. He would be a rental and more of a complementary piece than an answer on his own.
If the Lions want to go for a bigger name with more proven production, Budda Baker stands out. Detroit saw him up close last week in its win over the Cardinals, and he made an immediate impact in that game by timing a blitz perfectly for a sack of Jared Goff.
Baker’s resume is loaded: eight Pro Bowls and two First Team All-Pro selections. He would also bring real versatility to the secondary.
He is under contract through next season, which gives Detroit either longer-term stability or a possible cap decision down the road.
At safety, Justin Bates is another veteran worth watching. He is in the final year of his deal with the Falcons, and Atlanta at 2-4 could become a seller even while still in the NFC South race.
Bates hasn’t intercepted a pass this season, but he has 27 picks in his career. With the uncertainty around Kerby Joseph, he profiles as a proven ballhawk who could help steady the back end.
There is also Amani Hooker, who signed an extension before last season and is under contract through 2028. Tennessee is 1-5 and could decide Hooker is one of its best trade chips as it rebuilds under Robert Saleh in his first year as head coach. For Detroit, he would be another route to fill Joseph’s void or at least deepen the safety group.
The Lions have options, and most of them point in the same direction: help in the secondary is there if Holmes wants to pay the price.
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For a Detroit defense that has been searching for answers in the secondary, Taylor is the kind of name that can make sense on paper: young enough to matter, experienced enough to help, and potentially available if Tennessees view of his fit keeps going south. Nothing has been finalized, but the possibility alone is enough to keep an eye on, especially if the Lions are looking for a move that could change their defensive depth without costing them much. [Read more 🡒]
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For Detroit, the bigger concern is whether a lingering defensive issue shows up again at the wrong time. The Lions can get by when their defense is organized and on schedule, but this matchup has the feel of one where any uncertainty could matter, particularly against a Packers team still sorting out its identity. If the same problem hangs around into Sunday, it could turn a straightforward divisional test into a much trickier afternoon than the Lions want. [Read more 🡒]