The Detroit Lions are at a huge crossroads headed into Week 7. Detroit is coming off their bye week after getting a much-needed win against Arizona in Week 5. Not only did the Lions win, but they dismantled the Cardinals and actually played some solid defense. That is exactly what Lions fans needed to see before the bye week.
The Lions are now 3-2 on the season, but they are still a pretty mysterious team. Will the defense come out of the bye week with a new plan of attack? Or was their last performance a bit of a mirage against an inferior opponent?
One positive sign is that Brian Branch will soon be back, giving Detroit a huge boost in their secondary. It stands to reason that his return should improve the entire secondary to some degree. Unfortunately, it is impossible to know until the Lions actually put a good defensive product on the field again.
The NFL's trade deadline is November 10th this season. That means Detroit can play a few games before deciding if they need to add more talent on the defensive side of the ball.
At this point, the answer seems like a clear yes. But that doesn't mean the Lions need to go out in desperation mode and find a new CB1. Instead, Detroit should look to scoop up any cheap value wherever they can find it. And the Chargers look like just the team to call.
Should the Lions make a play at acquiring Khalil Mack? And if so, what should they offer the Chargers in return?
Detroit's perfect trade offer to LA for Khalil Mack
Here are the proposed trade terms before getting into any analysis.
Lions receive:
- EDGE Khalil Mack
- 2028 seventh-round pick
Chargers receive:
- 2027 fifth-round pick
Mack is a difficult player to determine the value of. The consensus seems to be that he is worth roughly a late-round pick. This trade could easily go down without the Lions receiving a seventh-round pick in exchange. However, the fact that it is in 2028 could make it more palatable for the Chargers.
Another reason for the price is the fact that Mack is a short-term rental at this stage in his career. Mack is under a one-year contract worth $18 million and there is no guarantee he wants to play again in 2027. So a cheap price makes sense for both sides in this one.
Meanwhile, Mack would probably enjoy the opportunity to leave LA and join a team with actual playoff potential. The Lions are not the juggernaut they have been in the recent past, but they are firmly in the playoff conversation. For Detroit, the hope is that Mack will join the team with a huge sense of urgency after being rescued from a sinking ship.
Both the price and the player in this hypothetical trade are pretty friendly to the Lions. But would adding Mack even be the right move for the team at this time?
Should the Lions add another edge rusher instead of a cornerback?
Article Continues BelowOne reasonable question that Lions fans could ask is why upgrade on the edges instead of in the secondary? After all, Detroit leads the league in sacks despite only playing five games so far this season.
It is a fair question. If the Chargers really do become sellers, why not attempt to acquire cornerback Donte Jackson or a different secondary player?
At the end of the day, general manager Brad Holmes has shown he doesn't like to swing huge trades during the middle of the season. Instead, he has a history of targeting players like Mack who have an established history of success in the NFL. The Za'Darius Smith trade back in 2024 is a perfect example of that philosophy.
That being the case, Mack should be within Detroit's desired price range. But a player like Jackson might cost just a little bit too much.
There's also the argument to be made that adding Mack can help the Lions in their secondary. Adding a dangerous pass rusher like Mack alongside Aidan Hutchinson could allow Detroit to create pressure by just rushing four players. As a result, the Lions could put their remaining seven defenders into coverage to blanket opposing receivers as much as possible.
Of course, this all depends on Detroit actually wanting to take that defensive approach. That is hardly a given knowing the team's propensity for blitzes. Still, there are room for both in the playbook.
Either way, it will be interesting to see if the Lions are interested in any Chargers players at the deadline.