The Detroit Lions haven\u2019t made many headlines for their offseason moves this year, and that\u2019s been mostly by design. Detroit is trying to manage a tight budget, make fringe improvements, and keep their long-term cap health in a good spot.<\/p>\n
But if there\u2019s one place they could make a splash, it\u2019s in the upcoming NFL Draft, and NFL.com writer Eric Edholm proposed a gigantic trade that would certainly grab the attention of the entire league.<\/a> Here\u2019s Edholm\u2019s proposal:<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Lions get: <\/p>\n 2026 first-round pick \u2014 7th overall<\/p>\n Commanders get: <\/p>\n 2026 first-round pick \u2014 17th overall<\/p>\n 2026 sixth-round pick \u2014 205th overall<\/p>\n Trading away LaPorta for a pick upgrade in the first and sixth-to-third round\u2014albeit in 2027\u2014would certainly draw some reactions. Here\u2019s how Edholm justified the move:<\/p>\n \u201cFirst off, I don\u2019t\u00a0think\u00a0LaPorta will be traded. But it wouldn\u2019t totally floor me if he was,\u201d Edholm wrote. \u201cLaPorta has been great, and losing him hurts Detroit\u2019s offense, but the big picture must be considered: LaPorta is entering the final year of his rookie deal and is coming off\u00a0back surgery<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n Later adding, \u201cWhy would Detroit move up to seven? I suspect to acquire a foundational left tackle. That position is their biggest remaining worry, and their guy might not last until 17. It would be a big risk, but a potentially smart one financially and football-wise, and Brad Holmes has never shied away from making waves in Round 1.\u201d<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n In short, trading LaPorta would help Detroit\u2019s difficult salary cap management by avoiding paying a pricey extension. Meanwhile, a trade up into the top-10 would help the put the finishing touches on their offensive line with a franchise left tackle.<\/p>\n It\u2019s a well-reasoned trade, even if it\u2019s likely to draw some visceral reactions from fans who love LaPorta.<\/p>\n But would the Lions actually do it? Let\u2019s debate.<\/p>\n Why the Lions may do it<\/p>\n Lions general manager Brad Holmes has never been shy about doing what he needs to do to get his guy in the NFL Draft. So if there\u2019s a tackle he\u2019s particularly fond of, I would not be surprised to see him make an aggressive move to get him. The Lions said fixing the offensive line is \u201ceverything\u201d this offseason, and it still feels like they\u2019re one big move away from accomplishing that.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Additionally, the potential cap savings are significant. As Edholm points out, the top-end market for a tight end extension is creeping up to $20 million a year, and with likely extensions coming for both running back Jahmyr Gibbs and linebacker Jack Campbell\u2014and maybe safety Brian Branch\u2014it\u2019s possible LaPorta could be the odd one out. A few years ago, Holmes made the bold decision to trade away tight end T.J. Hockenson, and the Lions quickly recovered by snagging LaPorta in the draft. Now, the Lions were in a completely different stage of roster building at this point, and Hockenson was a remnant from the previous regime, but it shows Holmes is willing to move on from a talented player prior to giving them an extension.<\/p>\n Why the Lions probably don\u2019t do it<\/p>\n For one, I think the Lions value LaPorta more than people realize. The Lions tight end has oddly been topic of trade proposals for the past year, as fans and analysts wonder how Detroit will navigate the future of that 2023 draft class. But the Lions have shown no indications they are even thinking of moving on from LaPorta. Holmes continues to reiterate that he wants all of those first four picks from the 2023 draft locked up long term.<\/p>\n