Detroit Lions Have a Chance to Bury the Packers in the NFC North—If They Make This Move
The Detroit Lions already dominated the NFC North in 2024, and they have a chance to make things even tougher for the Green Bay Packers in the years ahead. After finishing last season winless against both Detroit and Minnesota, the Packers are looking to close the gap. But if the Lions play their cards right this offseason, they could pull even further ahead.
One move that could make a massive impact? Trading for Cleveland Browns star pass rusher Myles Garrett. The former Defensive Player of the Year recently requested a trade, and Pro Football Focus has identified the Lions as an ideal landing spot. Pairing Garrett with Aidan Hutchinson, who was the league’s top-rated pass rusher before his season-ending injury, would create one of the most dangerous pass-rush duos in the NFL.
Last season, the Lions’ pass rush took a major hit when Hutchinson went down, falling to 27th in PFF’s pass-rush grade rankings despite a midseason trade for Za’Darius Smith. Adding Garrett would immediately restore Detroit’s dominance up front, giving them a defensive unit capable of wrecking opposing offenses and making another deep playoff run.
For the Packers, this potential trade should be a major red flag. If Garrett lands in Detroit, it could make winning the NFC North nearly impossible for Jordan Love and company. In fact, the Packers should consider jumping into the Garrett sweepstakes themselves—if only to keep him away from the Lions. But with Detroit GM Brad Holmes proving to be one of the most aggressive front-office minds in football, there’s a real chance the Lions could make this move and leave Green Bay struggling to keep up for years to come.
Could this be the defining move that finally puts Detroit over the top?
Lions in Control: How Detroit Can All but Eliminate Green Bay from NFC North Race
