Lions Predicted to Trade for Edge Rusher Who Started 16 Games Last Year
The Detroit Lions are expected to make some roster additions ahead of the upcoming NFL trade deadline, with edge rush an annual area of concern.
The Lions made a move for veteran Za’Darius Smith at last year’s trade deadline, filling some of the void left when star Aidan Hutchinson suffered a season-ending injury. The Lions could turn back to the position this year, with one analyst predicting they will look for a more marginal roster improvement by swinging a deal with the New England Patriots.
Lions Could Add Veteran Pass Rusher
Reporter Mike Payton of AtoZ Sports suggested the Lions could take aim at Patriots edge rusher Anfernee Jennings. Payton noted that the Lions have been connected to Jennings in the past, with ESPN’s Bill Barnwell suggesting in August that Detroit might be able to land him and a seventh-round pick in exchange for a sixth-round pick.
“Jennings is owed $2.5 million in 2025, about half of which is guaranteed,” Barnwell wrote. “He doesn’t appear to be in new coach Mike Vrabel’s plans, but I like him as a fit in Detroit, where the Lions could stand to add a little more edge depth.”
Payton added that, now that the Patriots are near the halfway point of their season, they still don’t appear to have any big plans for using Jennings. Though he was a 16-game starter in 2024, Jennings has not started any of his five games this season and has just 1.0 sacks.
“That was in August. Now we jump to October, and Barnwell was right, Vrabel has barely used Jennings,” Payton wrote. “He played 831 snaps in 2024 and looked to be a big part of the Patriots. This year, he’s played 79 snaps and has three pressures and a sack. He hasn’t been a bad player, but with the Patriots shifting how they play defense, he doesn’t seem to fit there.”
Payton called Jennings a “low-cost investment” who would be owed just $5 million combined for the rest of this season and 2026.
Lions Could Aim Bigger
While Jennings would provide the Lions more depth in their pass-rushing group, some analysts believe they will look for a more impactful player at the trade deadline. ESPN’s Seth Walder suggested the Lions could aim for Miami Dolphins edge rusher Jaelan Phillips, who is seen as one of the top pass rushers on the trade block in the coming week.
“Though Al-Quadin Muhammad has taken a real step forward, the Lions could use a No. 2 edge rusher to threaten opponents (and still use Muhammad as a rotational third player),” Walder wrote. “Phillips fits the bill because of his pass rushing (his 17.1% pass rush win rate at edge is above average) and strength against the run. He currently ranks sixth in run stop win rate at edge.”
The Lions could address other needs as well, including some help for their injury-struck secondary. The team has lost several of its defensive backs, and though many are on the way back from injury, Dan Campbell could always use more trusted depth for his defense.
What should expectations be for Bucs' Jalen McMillan in 2025 and beyond?
With wide receiver Jalen McMillan still spotted wearing a neck brace nearly two months after suffering his preseason injury, the question around One Buc Place remains, "When will we see McMillan return?"
McMillan, entering his second year with the Buccaneers, suffered a severe neck sprain in August during a preseason matchup when he landed awkwardly while trying to haul in a deep pass. Tampa Bay initially labeled the injury as “week-to-week,” but as the regular season has unfolded, that timeline has only become murkier.
As of late October, McMillan remains in a hard neck brace and has yet to return to practice. While he’s been present at team meetings and occasionally seen on the sidelines during games, sources around the team have indicated that he’s still not cleared for any football activity, not even light workouts. The sight of McMillan still wearing the brace nearly 10 weeks after the injury underscores just how serious the sprain was. Neck injuries often require extensive recovery and stabilization periods, and medical clearance is typically conservative to avoid re-injury or long-term complications.
Team medical staff and head coach Todd Bowles have hammered down caution, with no firm timeline for McMillan’s return. Even if cleared to remove the brace soon, he would still need several weeks of strength rebuilding, conditioning, and non-contact work before any potential return to the field.
McMillan’s absence has been felt. After a strong rookie campaign in 2024, recording 37 receptions for 461 yards and eight touchdowns, he was expected to play a larger role as Tampa Bay’s versatile slot option behind Mike Evans and Chris Godwin Jr.
Instead, the Buccaneers have leaned on rookie Emeka Egbuka and veteran Sterling Shepard to fill the gap.Given that McMillan is still immobilized in a brace, a mid- to late-December return appears to be the best-case scenario. A post-Week 13 comeback could align with a potential playoff push, but that depends on how quickly he can regain strength, flexibility, and confidence once cleared. Could Jalen McMillan return this season? Technically, yes, but the timelines aren’t promising yet. Until the brace comes off and he’s back on the practice field, the Buccaneers are preparing to move forward without him for the foreseeable future. If he does make it back before January, it would be one of the more inspiring comeback stories of the year.
For now, though, Tampa Bay’s receiving corps must keep finding ways to produce while their young playmaker focuses on the long road back to full health, even with Mike Evans out for most of the season and Godwin out with a fibula injury.
