After falling short in the playoffs for the second year in a row, and despite Brad Holmes dismissing the idea of a “Super Bowl window” closing, the Detroit Lions still find themselves in a position to compete for a championship.
This makes the upcoming offseason more intriguing than usual. Holmes isn’t hesitant to make trades during the draft, and if the right deal comes along, he’ll pursue a veteran. However, a major trade for a big-name player would be a significant shift away from Detroit’s draft-and-develop philosophy, as it would likely require giving up premium draft picks.
With that in mind, here are three Lions players who could be traded this offseason, due to reduced roles, uncertain futures, or other factors.
- WR Kalif Raymond
Despite missing five games due to a foot injury, Raymond finished the season leading the NFL in punt return yards (413) and ranking third in punt return average (13.8). However, his role in the Lions’ offense has waned over the past two seasons, culminating in just 17 catches for 215 yards in 2024.
As strong as Raymond is as a punt returner and as valuable as he is in the locker room, his $6.4 million cap hit in the final year of his contract stands out. While a restructure could make this more manageable, there’s a slim chance that Raymond could be traded as part of a larger move.
The next two players are much more likely to be moved.
- DE Josh Paschal
After three years, the Lions likely expected more than five sacks and fewer than 15 missed games from a player taken with a top-50 pick in the 2022 draft. While Paschal did post 34 quarterback pressures this past season, his pass rush win rate (5.5 percent) was among the lowest in the league.
Injuries weren’t a major factor for Paschal in 2024, as only two of his three missed games were due to a minor issue discovered during his annual screening after his cancer battle in college. He simply hasn’t stood out in any capacity (No. 106-graded edge rusher out of 119 according to PFF, including the playoffs).
Though the Lions could give him one more shot in his final contract year, he’s also part of the reason edge rusher remains a top priority. A change of scenery could benefit Paschal, and some teams—like the New York Jets, under former Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn—could be potential trade destinations.
- QB Hendon Hooker
The Lions’ stance on Hooker is clear. Despite talks of carrying three quarterbacks on the roster during training camp last summer, Hooker barely won the No. 2 spot over Nate Sudfeld. He saw limited action in three blowouts this season, but his lack of pass attempts was largely due to the circumstances, not a lack of potential.
There was rumored interest from Detroit in Daniel Jones during the season, and later, the Lions signed Teddy Bridgewater to bring more experience to the backup role. Bridgewater ended up as Jared Goff’s backup in the playoff game against the Washington Commanders over Hooker.
Given that Hooker is 27 years old, recovering from an ACL injury, and under contract for just a few more years, his future in Detroit is uncertain. With Goff signed through 2028, Hooker may be better suited to a different team, where he could have a better opportunity to play. Trading him could be a favor to the young quarterback and could provide the Lions with a more reliable backup behind Goff.