By Blessing 
Lions Urged to Move on From Underperforming $7.7M Defender
The Detroit Lions are heading into the 2025 NFL season with a lot of optimism. With a strong returning core and new additions across the roster, the team is in a solid position. But even with things looking promising overall, not every player may be part of the long-term vision.
It’s the quieter part of the offseason—where behind-the-scenes decisions can shape the outcome of a season. Like every other NFL team, the Lions are taking this time to fine-tune their roster, weighing who deserves to stay and who may be better off elsewhere.
While the team is confident in many of its returning players, they’re also facing a period of transition. Key members of the coaching staff are gone. Offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn won’t be back, and their absences will no doubt be felt. All eyes are now on head coach Dan Campbell as he prepares to lead with a restructured staff that includes new faces and fresh ideas.
But amid all this change, there’s one player whose future in Detroit has sparked conversation: defensive end Josh Paschal.
A Trade Option That’s Gaining Steam
According to a recent article by Efstathios Savvidis of Detroit Jock City, Paschal may no longer fit into the Lions’ plans. In fact, Savvidis went as far as to say the team should trade him “immediately.”
“It’ll be tough to repeat the regular season success of last year due to the numerous departures from the coaching staff,” Savvidis wrote, “but with their talented core remaining and Dan Campbell still at the helm, the Lions should be in good shape.”
Paschal, a second-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, came into the league with a lot of promise. Since then, he’s shown flashes of talent, totaling five sacks, 12 tackles for loss, and 15 quarterback hits over his tenure with the Lions. In 2024, he started 10 games and recorded 2 sacks, 5 tackles for loss, and 8 quarterback hits.
Still, it hasn’t been enough to convince critics—or perhaps even the team—that he’s the right fit moving forward.
A Player Still Searching for His Breakout Moment
One of the main arguments against keeping Paschal centers around his lack of impact, especially when the team needed defensive help last season.
“Paschal wasn’t able to make an impact,” Savvidis noted, referencing the team’s defensive struggles in 2024. Despite flashes of solid play against the run, Paschal hasn’t turned into the reliable edge rusher the Lions hoped he’d become.
“Although Paschal has been solid in the run game, receiving a 62.5 run defense grade, he hasn’t evolved into a quality starting edge player that the Lions hoped he’d be,” Savvidis added.
The metrics seem to support that view. Pro Football Focus gave him a 54.5 overall grade in 2024, placing him 154th out of 211 eligible edge rushers. His pass rush grade was even lower, at 48.
Should the Lions Trade Him Now?
Savvidis makes the case that both sides might benefit from parting ways. For the Lions, dealing Paschal could help them address bigger concerns in the secondary—a unit that ranked 30th in passing yards allowed per game last season (244). For Paschal, a change of scenery might give him the chance to develop in a system that better suits his strengths.
“Both parties could benefit from a trade,” Savvidis explained, “as the Lions need to bolster their secondary… while Paschal could become a better player in a different system that offers him more playing time. Unfortunately, it’s come to this point, but the Lions need to capitalize on Paschal before he walks, and they get nothing in return.”
It’s not an easy call. Paschal still has some upside, and a revamped coaching staff could be just what he needs to unlock it. With depth being critical along the defensive line, the Lions might be hesitant to move on too quickly.
But if the team isn’t fully convinced of his potential, it may be smarter to act now while he still holds trade value. After all, it’s better to get something in return than let a former second-round pick walk away for nothing.
As training camp approaches, all eyes will be on the front office to see whether they make the tough call—or give Paschal one more chance to prove himself in Detroit.