Adam Schefter believes Detroit Lions will trade for a pass rusher

ESPN’s NFL insider Adam Schefter believes the Detroit Lions will eventually trade for a pass rusher.

We’re inching closer and closer to the NFL trade deadline on Tuesday, November 5, and the Detroit Lions have still remained moveless. However, ESPN’s NFL insider Adam Schefter believes that will eventually change.

During Thursday’s “Get Up” episode, Schefter was asked if he believes the Lions will trade for a pass rusher before the deadline. Here’s what he said.

“Yes, I do think you’re going to see that. You saw Dan Campbell get all fired up. He looked like the cat who ate the canary. They don’t have a deal done yet, but there are a couple of pass rushers out there right now: Za’Darius Smith, Azeez Ojulari in New York. There are a couple of guys that make a lot of sense for the Lions, and if you are this close and this good, why are you not willing to part with some mid-round pick to get in some kind of reinforcement to hold down the fort so Aidan Hutchinson can make it back for the Super Bowl, if you make it that far?”

Now, to be clear, this reads more as speculation and prediction than reporting from Schefter. The only factual piece that the NFL insider drops there is the most obvious one: “they don’t have a deal done yet.”

That said, it’s interesting that he points specifically to Smith and Ojulari. Smith has been the most popular option from Lions fans—and for good reason—but Ojulari is less spoken about.

At just 24 years old, Ojulari would be a potentially more long-term replacement than the 32-year-old Smith, but that could mean he comes at a higher price. Though he’s still on his cheap rookie deal, that expires this upcoming offseason, and if Detroit were to want to keep him around for 2025, it would suddenly cost a lot of cap space, as well—whereas Smith is already inked for next season.

Ojulari is off to a strong start to his fourth NFL season. He has 6.0 sacks and 19 pressures through eight games, although there may be concern about his fit. At 6-foot-3, 240 pounds, he is more apt for Detroit’s SAM linebacker role, which they currently have filled by Trevor Nowaske—who has shown week-to-week improvement. Detroit typically likes their pure edge rushers at least 255-260 pounds with the ability to play physical. That said, his ridiculous wingspan (82.5 inches) helps Ojulari play more physical than his frame suggests.

The Lions continue to publicly say they’re looking for trade options, but they’re also examining internal options to replace Aidan Hutchinson and add to their defensive line room.

“We’re aware and we’re still looking at it, but no, I wouldn’t say we’re in panic mode,” coach Dan Campbell said on Monday.