The Detroit Lions find themselves with a big problem along the edge just three games into the 2024 campaign after losing a key defender to a season-ending injury.
Head coach Dan Campbell announced on Monday that the Lions have lost veteran pass-rusher Marcus Davenport for the season due to an injury. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that Davenport is dealing with an elbow issue.
The Lions are now left with James Houston and Josh Paschal as their best options to fill the void, but neither one is guaranteed to get the job done. Knowing that, the Lions should be exploring every means necessary to add to the group.
One edge rusher the Lions should take a look at is New York Jets veteran defender, Haason Reddick, who Bleacher Report's Kristopher Knox suggested as a potential solution to Detroit's problem in his Week 4 trade block big board article.
The Detroit Lions, who are hoping to make a Super Bowl run this season, should be calling about him now. They need a high-end edge-rusher opposite Aidan Hutchinson, and their 2024 experiment with Marcus Davenport may already be over.
Things between Reddick and the Jets remain status quo. Reddick won't budge on his demand for a new contract, and the Jets won't give in.
But something has to give at some point, as the Jets can't have this hanging over their heads the entire season. Thus, it isn't crazy to think that the Jets could just decide to cut bait and try to get something for him.
Reddick would immediately provide a major boost to Detroit's defense and is a great solution for the win-now Lions. The 30-year-old has been as consistent as they come over the past four years, with 11 or more sacks in each season.
Not only is he an upgrade over Paschal and Houston, Reddick is also a better player than even Davenport and would be just what the doctor ordered opposite Aidan Hutchinson.
The Lions would have to agree to an extension with Reddick before completing any trade, but that should not stop them from making a move that would no doubt improve their Super Bowl chances.
