On Tuesday, news broke that the Detroit Lions had traded the Dallas Cowboys for DE Everson Griffen.
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The move not only provides an instant (starting in Week 9) boost to the pass rush but it also signifies that the Lions are buyers as the NFL trade deadline draws near.
But could Bob Quinn make another big splash before Tuesday’s deadline?
According to Chris Burke of The Athletic, a trade that could make sense for the Lions would result in them landing the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, Stephon Gilmore.
Here is what Burke had to say about the potential trade.
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Lions get: CB Stephon Gilmore
Patriots get: 2021 first-round pick
How much do you believe in this team? How much do you believe in its young corners? The Lions just this past offseason traded away a high-profile corner they didn’t want to pay, Darius Slay, so taking on Gilmore’s big contract — and potentially even bigger demands — might not jibe. Flip side: How often do you get a crack at the reigning DPOY, let alone one who can make a seamless transition into your system?
Gilmore would step into the CB1 role (making Desmond Trufant expendable after the year), plus would take a ton of heat off the shoulders of Jeff Okudah and Amani Oruwariye. Just taken in a bubble, if the Lions are serious about challenging for the playoffs, Gilmore would be an incredible addition.
Buuuuuuuut a first? The Lions probably aren’t in position to start giving up that sort of capital, not to mention that you’d have a GM on the hot seat pulling the trigger. This is a Super Bowl-level move. This organization would have to be feeling supremely confident to even broach it.
Nation, there is no question about it that Gilmore would be a HUGE boost to the Lions’ secondary but is it worth it to give up a first-round pick?
No way he’s worth a first round pick Don. Trufant was playing well until the injury and should be back soon. Okudah is improving every week and Oruwariye is playing well. We might make the playoffs, but if we do, we’re not going deep, with or without Gilmore. You don’t trade top draft capital for aging rental players if you’re trying to build a long term, consistent winner.