ALLEN PARK -- Dan Campbell doesn’t expect the Detroit Lions to be active at the trade deadline.
But the Lions coach said general manager Brad Holmes has already brought him a couple of names. The NFL’s trade deadline is set for 4 p.m. this coming Tuesday, Nov. 4.
ESPN and The Athletic have reported the Lions have been kicking the tires and checking in on edge defenders and cornerbacks ahead of the deadline.
“I don’t (expect to be active). But that doesn’t mean we won’t,” Campbell said. “I mean, he’s (Holmes) brought up a couple of things already. But I’m not -- I’m so focused on the here and now and the roster we have in place, getting these guys ready to go.
“I love where we’re at. I think the roster is healthy, I think it’s in a good position, I think we have depth. But like I say, he’s always looking to improve the roster. That’s one of his jobs, and he does a hell of a job at it.”
Edge rusher depth has been a hearty topic around these parts for quite some time. The Lions have Aidan Hutchinson playing at an elite clip, and Al-Quadin Muhammad has been a true breakout player. But they are still without Marcus Davenport for at least a couple more weeks, and Josh Paschal remains behind schedule in his recovery from a back injury.
Cornerback is an interesting one because the Lions are about to get Terrion Arnold back. Khalil Dorsey has been spotted working to the side this week, and D.J. Reed has just one game left on his minimum four-game stay on injured reserve.
The Lions also just got a memorable showing from their “Legion of Whom” secondary depth heading into the bye week.
“But I don’t see a need or necessity to go and reach for anything or anyone,” Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard said this week. “I think that’s very disrespectful to talk about that with the guys that we have, and I feel like the respect that they’ve garnered by the work they’ve put in through seven weeks.
“But I leave all that up to Brad. They do a tremendous job. That’s what I have the luxury of doing here. I get the luxury of just being a defensive coordinator. I don’t have to try to be the GM, I don’t have to try to be the head coach, I don’t have to try to be the linebacker coach because I’m surrounded by an ecosystem of elite guys in their respective groups.”
However, Holmes and assistant general manager Ray Agnew are always looking into players and working the phones. Campbell wasn’t about to give any state secrets away about who or how many players have been brought to his table by Holmes and the personnel department.
But the Lions have made a trade at the deadline for three consecutive years. They sent tight end T.J. Hockenson and two picks to the Minnesota Vikings for a second- and third-round pick. Then, they traded for receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones the next year. And Holmes went back to the Cleveland Browns well for pass rusher Za’Darius Smith last year.
“Yeah, if there’s somebody he knows that he feels good about and that I would, then he’ll bring it. Otherwise, he doesn’t bog me down with any of that,” Campbell said of the process this time of the year. “So, they’re doing the leg work and if there’s somebody that he thinks is intriguing, he thinks the price could be right, it’s somebody maybe he fits us, it could be a need, then it comes to me like, ‘Hey, let’s check this out.’ But otherwise, he just kind of stays away from that, which is all good.”
Campbell said it’s a two-way street with Holmes about roster decisions. He’s brought ideas and players to the general manager in the past, and the two have always been able to find common ground.
“Yeah, if I’ve got something on my mind and I feel - absolutely I would go there,” Campbell said. “And we stay in open communication with that all the time.
“I mean, if I feel like there’s something that is eating away at me a little bit or maybe just a bit of a concern, sure I’ll bring that to his attention.”
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