At this point in the offseason, most teams are done with any big roster moves.
Free agency and the draft are now behind us, but that doesn't mean some impactful moves can't still be made. The Lions are one team in particular that could make some moves on the fringes of the roster this summer.
The Lions have Super Bowl aspirations, so adding some pieces to fill the biggest remaining holes would be wise. The interior offensive line, edge rush, and secondary could all use some more depth before the season gets underway.
Cory Woodroof of For The Win recently identified veteran guard Joel Bitonio as a realistic trade target for the Lions. Bitonio has spent his entire 11-year career with the Browns, but the team doesn't appear set to compete in 2025 and may offload some veterans for draft capital.
Regarding Bitonio and the Lions, Woodroof offered the following:
The Lions need a veteran left guard, and the Browns need to add draft picks for the future. Cleveland added Teven Jenkins in the offseason, so it has a left guard ready to go if it traded the veteran Bitonio. Detroit could flip a couple of Day 3 picks Cleveland's way to secure Bitonio for its offensive line. It'd be a great landing spot for the veteran Bitonio to contend for a Super Bowl with the Lions before his playing days are over.
In this scenario, the Lions would part with a 2026 sixth-round and 2027 seventh-round in exchange for the veteran blocker.
As Woodroof mentioned, the Browns could be willing to part with Bitonio after bringing in Teven Jenkins this offseason. A team like the Browns could just want whatever draft capital they can get at this point to replenish a depleted roster.
Bitonio has had an impressive and lengthy career in Cleveland. The guard came into the league as a second-round pick of the Browns in the 2014 NFL Draft. Since then, Bitonio has earned seven Pro Bowl bids and two First-team All-Pro selections.
In 2024, Bitonio started all 17 games at left guard for the Browns and earned a solid 63.9 grade from Pro Football Focus. Bitonio has always been better as a pass blocker than run blocker, and he could fit in nicely in Detroit.
The Lions drafted guard Tate Ratledge in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft, and the rookie should get every opportunity to start at right guard. The left guard spot is more up in the air though, as Graham Glasgow and Christian Mahogany don't make up the most impressive duo.
Bitonio could challenge Glasgow and Mahogany for the left guard spot, or handle right guard until Ratledge is ready to start. For the price of two late-round picks, this deal would be worth it for the Lions.