The Detroit Lions showed great determination throughout the 2024 season.
They played exceptional football across all 18 weeks of the regular season, securing the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs. The Lions were considered strong favorites to reach the Super Bowl for the first time in franchise history.
No one anticipated a change in momentum when the Lions faced the Washington Commanders in the divisional playoff game at home.
However, the Commanders were undaunted by Detroit’s regular-season success, with head coach Dan Quinn’s squad fully prepared to play a tough, competitive game on the road.
The Lions entered the game with several key defensive injuries and found themselves trailing Washington in the second quarter, forcing them into a position of having to play catch-up.
This was an unfamiliar scenario for the Lions, and they could never find their rhythm.
Washington went on to secure a surprising road win, ending the Lions’ season with a 45-31 victory, quieting the Detroit crowd in the process.
Lions general manager Brad Holmes can certainly point to the team’s defensive injuries as a major factor in their second-half struggles and eventual playoff loss.
While Holmes and head coach Dan Campbell have every reason to hope for a healthier team in 2025, without the injury woes that sidelined key players like pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson (broken leg), cornerbacks Carlton Davis (jaw) and Khalil Dorsey (ankle), and defensive linemen Alim McNeil (knee), Kyle Peko (pectoral), and Marcus Davenport (triceps), the Lions can’t afford to take their health for granted.
Rather than simply hoping for better health, the Lions should pursue trades for two defensive players who could make a significant impact on their defense.
Linebacker and pass rusher Josh Sweat from the Philadelphia Eagles and cornerback Rasul Douglas of the Buffalo Bills are both set to become free agents on March 12 when the 2025 league year begins.
Trading for either or both of these players before free agency kicks off could come at a relatively low cost, as teams know they will soon hit the open market.
If the Lions can bring these players on board and sign them to long-term contracts, they would greatly improve their defensive unit compared to last season.
The Lions need help with their pass rush. While Hutchinson is expected to be a dominant force if he can stay healthy, having another reliable pass rusher would make him even more effective. Sweat, although listed as a linebacker, is a superb pass rusher.
In the regular season, he recorded 8.0 sacks, 41 tackles, 9 tackles for loss, and 2 passes deflected. Pairing him with Hutchinson would create a dynamic pass-rushing duo.
The Lions also faced issues with their pass coverage during the season.
In their loss to the Buffalo Bills, Josh Allen torched their secondary, throwing for 362 yards, 2 touchdowns, and no interceptions or sacks. The Lions secondary struggled throughout the game.
They also had difficulty containing the San Francisco 49ers and allowed the Commanders to exploit their secondary in the playoff loss.
Rasul Douglas of the Buffalo Bills could help in this area. Acquired by Buffalo in a 2023 trade from the Green Bay Packers, Douglas had a strong season in 2024 with 58 tackles and 5 passes defensed. While he didn’t record an interception that season, he has had as many as five picks in a season twice before.
Acquiring both Sweat and Douglas and locking them down with new contracts would be significant steps toward strengthening the Lions’ defense.