The Detroit Lions are trying to get back to contention in 2026 after missing the playoffs in 2025.
The Lions made it all the way to the NFC Championship Game in 2023, but the 2024 and 2025 seasons ended in disappointment. The team has a solid roster still, but the NFC North only gets tougher. As a result, the team could decide to make a bold move this offseason in a bid to take the next step.
Ralph Vacchiano of FOX Sports recently identified one player each NFC team should trade for. For the Lions, Vacchiano identified star defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons, who's set to enter his eighth season with the Tennessee Titans.
Simmons has been one of the best interior defensive linemen in the league for years now. However, the Titans brought in a new coaching staff this offseason, and it's possible Simmons could want out to play for a contender.
Vacchiano offered the following:
The Titans didn’t trade Simmons at the deadline last year, and it’s hard to imagine new coach Robert Saleh would want to part with his best player now. But the clock is ticking on a contract that expires after next season, and will the Titans be any good by then? The Lions, meanwhile, have their own clock ticking on contention and desperately need help on the defensive line to avoid Aidan Hutchinson drawing constant double-teams. Add a DT like Simmons and their pass rush could be fierce again, making them an instant contender. That could be worth what should be a very hefty price.
As Vacchiano mentioned, the Titans probably don't want to move Simmons, but he will be due for an extension soon. It's possible the team could move the veteran star if they don't believe he will re-sign.
Regarding compensation, Vacchiano suggested a 2026 first-round pick and a 2027 second-round selection. That would be a hefty price for the Lions to pay, and a team with plenty of holes, like the Titans, may not be able to turn that down.
In 2025, Simmons collected 67 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, and 11 sacks. The defender earned his fourth Pro Bowl selection and set a new career-high in sacks.
Opposing teams would definitely have nightmares thinking about Simmons, Aidan Hutchinson, and Alim McNeill being on the same defensive line. This is the kind of move that turns a team into a true Super Bowl contender.
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