The Detroit Lions are set to try and make a run at the Super Bowl in 2025, and the roster remains supremely talented to get the job done. Unfortunately, the team has one major glaring weakness that could hurt Detroit's efforts.
That weakness comes along the edge, where the Lions also had issues last season. The team's sacks leader was Aidan Hutchinson, but the problem with that fact is that Hutchinson only played in five games after breaking his tibia and fibula.
The player who finished second on the team in sacks was veteran Za'Darius Smith, who had four. But, bear in mind, Smith was a trade deadline acquisition and only played in eight contests with Detroit.
Knowing all that, we expected the Lions to retain Smith AND make another significant addition along the edge.
Instead, the Lions cut Smith and brought back Marcus Davenport, who is routinely plagued by injuries, and was once again last season.
We want to believe the Lions can win a Super Bowl as is, but it's hard to have a lot of confidence in that with things as bad as they are along the edge.
Bleacher Report's Alex Kay proposed a bunch of blockbuster trades he wants to see before the 2025 campaign begins, and Kay listed the Lions acquiring Khalil Mack from the Los Angeles Chargers as one of them.
Kay's proposal is as follows:
- Los Angeles Chargers receive: 2026 fifth-round pick
- Detroit Lions receive: Edge Khalil Mack
"The Detroit Lions could be the perfect landing spot for Mack. The team needs to add some juice on the edge to take the heat off star sack artist Aidan Hutchinson, and Mack could be the ideal player to give opposing offenses fits," Kay wrote.
Mack, who has racked up 107 sacks during his career, tallied just six last season but that still would've ranked second in Detroit, and he's just one season removed from a 17-sack showing in 2023.
Even if he doesn't have much juice left in the tank at 34 years old, he'd still offer an upgrade for Detroit. However, this trade is a pipe dream, at best.
The Chargers just re-signed Mack to an $18 million deal this offseason and they need him in what is a brutal AFC West that is loaded with talented passers.
From the Lions' side, if they weren't able to afford the $11 million or so that was left on the final year of Smith's deal, chances are they won't be keen on picking Mack's $18 million up.
Would we love to see the Lions trade for Mack? Absolutely, but there's just too many roadblocks for it to actually happen.
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