Detroit Lions Trade for Game-Changing $61 Million Defender in Intriguing Trade Proposal
The Detroit Lions were one of the best offensive teams in the NFL in 2023, but it’s on defense that they fell short. With that said, it’s definitely a priority for them to improve on that end this offseason as they look to build upon their recent success and compete for a Super Bowl.
In order to do so, however, the Lions will need to make franchise-altering moves. If they are serious about competing, they know very well that they need to take advantage of their current status and continue to improve the roster while their window is still open.
With that said, trading for Denver Broncos safety Justin Simmons could exactly be the type of move that catapults them to the top.
In a recent piece by Bleacher Report where Brad Gagnon noted what he called potential landscape-shifting trades, the Lions-Broncos deal for Simmons was proposed.
The Lions need a defensive boost, so acquiring Simmons should be beneficial for them. As for the Broncos, without a quarterback to lead them and the franchise seemingly heading to a rebuild, moving an aging veteran seems to be the right move.
Not to mention that they can save some precious cap space by parting ways with Simmons. The 30-year-old safety is under the $61 million deal he signed with the Broncos in 2021, with his cap hit for 2024 at $18.2 million, per Spotrac.
Here’s what BR said about the potential trade:
Yeah, this one isn’t as glitzy as the rest. But when you consider how close the Detroit Lions got to the Super Bowl in 2023, a deal for a game-changing defender could be the type of move that puts the team over the top in 2024.
Veteran safety Justin Simmons fits that profile and addresses a need for a defense that has plenty of room to improve after ranking 13th in DVOA (defense-adjusted value over average) in 2023, per FTN.
Simmons is on the wrong side of 30, and a Denver Broncos team that simply hasn’t been competitive can save $14.5 million by moving on ahead of a walk year for the two-time Pro Bowler, per Spotrac.
Here, they can send him out of the conference to a team that could get more bang for its buck with him as a contender in 2024.
Considering that both the Lions and Broncos can benefit from the deal, it’s certainly something worth exploring come the official start of the offseason.
Detroit Lions’ Defense Needs a Boost
As mentioned, the Detroit Lions could use a defensive addition to help elevate them to contender status. They made it all the way to the NFC Championship, but their 19th-ranked overall defense doomed them.
After leading by 17 points at halftime against the San Francisco 49ers in the conference battle, the Lions collapsed and allowed the Niners to secure the victory instead.
Dan Campbell’s aggressive offense is great, but clearly, they need an equally good defense to balance it out. Adding a player like Justin Simmons is definitely a step in the right direction. If the Broncos make him available, then the Lions shouldn’t hesitate in picking up the phone and making the call.
