The Detroit Lions head into their Week 5 bye riding a two-game winning streak and holding a 3-1 record, placing them second in the NFC North. However, despite their strong start, there is still room for improvement. While defensive end Aidan Hutchinson leads the NFL with 6.5 sacks after four games, no other Lions pass rusher has more than 1.5 sacks this season.
The Lions’ defense ranks 22nd in the NFL for average yards allowed per game (349.0) and 30th in passing yards allowed per game (258.3). In a Week 5 “NFL Team Needs” report, Bleacher Report suggested the Lions should target New York Jets pass rusher Haason Reddick, who is currently in a contract holdout, as a trade option to address their defensive gaps.
“Marcus Davenport’s season-ending injury is a huge blow for the Lions, as he was supposed to alleviate some of the pressure on Hutchinson,” B/R’s scouting team noted. “The Lions should explore trading with the Jets to acquire Reddick.”
![Rapoport] The #Jets situation with Haason Reddick still has no resolution & some wondered if NYJ could trade him back to the #Eagles . Turns out, per NFL rules not possible. :](https://external-preview.redd.it/rapoport-the-situation-with-haason-reddick-still-has-no-v0--uznZsJ2ZzoecS-v7u-rCOSJxdVfg7SlyC2cIzJLc8c.jpg?auto=webp&s=a5136fca280d67f78418748dfd13e8a9ba6f5526)
Reddick, 30, who has yet to play for the Jets after being traded from the Eagles, signed a three-year, $45 million deal in 2022, with a base salary of $14.2 million this season. With Detroit possessing the third-most salary cap space in the NFL at $40 million, they have the flexibility to make the move.
According to B/R, acquiring Reddick could be a strategic solution, addressing both short-term and long-term needs, as Davenport is only signed for one year. Reddick has recorded at least 11 sacks in each of the past four seasons, while the Lions have had only one player reach that mark in recent years—Hutchinson, who had 11.5 sacks last season.
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