By Moses Joshua 
Detroit’s head coach doubles down on confidence in current roster despite fan pressure for aggressive moves
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell isn’t losing sleep over the team’s quiet approach at the NFL trade deadline. While fans and analysts clamored for Detroit to make a splashy move, Campbell stood firm, explaining that the Lions simply didn’t see a deal worth pursuing.
Nothing Worth the Price
Campbell revealed that while the front office did explore potential moves—particularly on the offensive line—no opportunities rose to the level of being “noteworthy.”
“There was nothing that was, I would say, enough to be noteworthy,” Campbell said. “I mean it was certainly more intriguing, but not—it wasn’t good enough. So, all good. All good. We’re ready to roll.”
Rather than dealing away draft assets, Detroit chose to strengthen its practice squad with veteran offensive linemen Netane Muti and Chris Hubbard, along with rookie Jack Conley. Campbell also pointed to depth options already in-house—such as Kayode Awosika and Trystan Colon—who know the system and can step in when needed.
Sometimes, he admitted, the temptation to upgrade is there, but the cost-benefit analysis doesn’t justify it.
“Yeah, he’s a little better, but is it really worth that for what you’re giving up versus the next guy we have ready to go as the backup that’s coming off of vet squad?” Campbell explained. “Those most of the time are the ones that we are like, ‘Well, no I don’t think so.’”
A Calculated Approach Over a “Win-Now” Splash
For some fans, the lack of bold action was disappointing. The team’s general manager, Brad Holmes, comes from the Los Angeles Rams organization—a franchise famous for its “F— them picks” philosophy under Les Snead. Many hoped Detroit might follow suit, going all-in for a Super Bowl push.
But Campbell made it clear that Detroit’s long-term vision is different.
“That’s a lot of capital, especially with guys that we’ve got that we’re signing and we want to continue to sign to keep what we have intact,” he said. “Now, you’re not only throwing the picks, you’ve also got to pay that player too, probably. Otherwise, why are you throwing all the picks at a guy that you’re buying him for a year?”
Instead, Campbell emphasized the importance of sticking to the team’s plan—drafting, developing, and rewarding their own talent.
Confidence in the Locker Room
Despite outside criticism, Campbell exudes confidence in his group. His focus, he said, is on maximizing what’s already inside the building.
“I feel good. I’ll say this again, my job is to freaking get these guys ready to play on Sunday, and I’ve got the roster to do it,” Campbell asserted. “We’ve got depth, we’ve got the dudes, we’ve got weapons, we’ve got a quarterback. I’ve got to do my part.”
As the Lions turn their attention to the second half of the season, Campbell’s message is clear: Detroit doesn’t need to chase big names to compete—they just need to keep believing in their own.