The NFL trade deadline has come and past, and the Detroit Lions made just a modest move. They sent a 2028 sixth-round pick for depth safety Andre Cisco. While Cisco had been taken out of the starting lineup for the New York Jets—who are sporting a solid duo of Dane Belton and Mikah Fitzpatrick at the position—he comes to Detroit with plenty of playing experience and a knowledge of their system, having played under Aaron Glenn. It appears Cisco will have a role quickly with the team.
“We would like
to get him going ASAP,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said Wednesday. “We’d like to get him going. He’s obviously going out to Germany with them. Our plan is to get him going in this game and let him help us a little bit. How much, that’s not quite there yet, but we do have a plan for him to help us.”
For many fans, that move wasn’t enough to move the needle for the Lions. They were hoping for a bigger splash, and potentially some help at the linebacker and cornerback position. So today’s Question of the Day is:
Which move made at the NFL trade deadline do you think the Lions should have made?
My answer: First, let me explain why I asked the question this way.
Many people are mad that the Lions didn’t go out and get a player like Riq Woolen, Zack Baun, or Donte Jackson. But it’s hard to get mad at a move that no one made, because we don’t know the conditions required to trade for those players. Were they even available to trade for? Did the Lions try aggressively to acquire one, but the team wasn’t offering them at a reasonable price? Did the Lions ignore those player completely because they didn’t view them as scheme fits?
It’s impossible to informatively critique the Lions for failing to make a move when we have zero reliable knowledge on what it would’ve taken to acquire those players. Those conversations feel like a waste of time and energy.
However, we do know the conditions it took to trade for players who were moved over the last few weeks. We know for certain that they were available for trade, and we know (around) what it would’ve cost Detroit to acquire said player. So, among the moves that were made over the past few weeks, which one appeals to you the most?
YOU CAN SEE THE FULL LIST OF TRADES MADE IN-SEASON HERE IN OUR TRACKER
Interestingly, since the Joey Porter Jr. trade over a month ago, there have only been a few defensive trades made:
- Bears trade for DT Jeffery Simmons
- 49ers trade for DT DeForest Buckner
- Jaguars trade for DT Davon Godchaux
- Jaguars trade for S Jessie Bates
- Bills trade for S Amani Hooker
- Lions trade for S Andre Cisco
Then two trade that were agreed upon fell through: Bengals trading for EDGE Arnold Ebiketie and Broncos trading for LB Daiyan Henley.
So, essentially, zero trades were made at positions of need for the Lions. I saw many wishing they had trade for Henley (Broncos were going to spend a fourth and 2028 fifth-round pick for him), and at this point, it’s unclear why the trade did not go through.
I will say, I’m intrigued by the other safety moves that were made. I think Jessie Bates is a game-changer, but a second-round pick for a half-season rental is a bit pricey for a Lions team that is getting healthier at the safety position right now. Hooker is a younger option who is signed through 2028, and comes with reasonable price tags of $9.57 million in 2027 and $11.8 million in 2028. If the Lions don’t believe Kerby Joseph will be around beyond this year, this could’ve been a very savvy move for what amounted to a second-round pick with a fifth-round pick in return.
However, the trade I keep going back to is the Joey Porter Jr. one. I still think that’s a move I would’ve made (cost the Cowboys a sixth and 2028 second-round pick). While Porter has struggled with injuries with Dallas, his play on the field has been as advertised. I thought he was a great scheme fit, and a potential long-term option for a position Detroit has struggled to find consistency at. I wrote more about why I thought the Lions should’ve traded for Porter Jr. back in October.
Which trade deadline move that was actually finalized do you think the Lions should have made? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.
