By Sunday 
Detroit’s defense doesn’t need fireworks — it needs focus.
As the Detroit Lions battle neck and neck with the Packers in the NFC North, the front office faces a familiar dilemma: chase a big-name trade or make the kind of smart, under-the-radar move that keeps this team balanced and dangerous.
Sure, a Jaelan Phillips trade sounds exciting on paper — but exciting doesn’t always mean wise. With Phillips’ lingering injury concerns and a hefty price tag, this might be one of those moments where GM Brad Holmes looks at the board and says, “We can do better with less.”
Enter: Opportunity.
That opportunity just might come in the form of a recently released Chicago Bear.
The Lions could bring in a former $21 million second-round pick like Trevis Walker (as Detroit Jock City’s Cem Yolbulan suggested) on a short-term, team-friendly deal. No lost draft capital. No risky rehab projects. Just a hungry veteran eager to prove he still belongs.
It’s the kind of signing that doesn’t make headlines but ends up making plays.
Depth wins championships.
With Aidan Hutchinson leading the charge and Al-Quadin Muhammad stepping up opposite him, Detroit has the foundation. What they lack is rotation strength — those fourth and fifth pass rushers who can still disrupt drives when the starters rest.
Walker could be exactly that. Versatile, experienced, and motivated — all at a bargain price.
And if there’s one thing we’ve learned about the Lions’ identity under Dan Campbell, it’s that grit and value matter more than flash.
The smarter play.
Signing Walker would be a statement that Detroit is thinking long-term. Instead of trading assets for a risky fit, they’d be building sustainable defensive depth — the kind that wins playoff games in January.
Sometimes the smartest opportunity isn’t the loudest one. It’s the one that keeps your locker room hungry and your cap sheet healthy.
And for the Lions, that’s the kind of opportunity you don’t pass up.