lions
Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Detroit Lions badly need help in their defensive secondary, and a prominent NFL insider believes two players in particular should be on their wishlist this month.
The Lions are in the middle of a clear Super Bowl window that will eventually close as key players seek big pay increases or leave in free agency. That is why their 2-2 start to the 2026 NFL schedule is so frustrating. Especially since they could just as easily be 0-4 heading into their Week 5 matchup.
As in years past, the Lions have an obvious weakness. While their offense is fifth in the NFL in scoring (29.8 points per game) and sixth in total yards (389.3), their defense is giving up the most yards (423.8) and the second-most points (31.8). Specifically, their secondary is a serious problem as they deal with injuries to Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph.
Detroit needs to make a trade to improve the back end of their defense soon. Well, with Joey Porter Jr. no longer on the market, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler offered up a pair of sensible options for Detroit in the next few weeks.
“One potential option is Kansas City’s Kristian Fulton, who is in and out of the Chiefs’ lineup. He is owed real money — $5 million of his $9.75 million base salary is guaranteed — but perhaps the Chiefs and Lions could split the bill to facilitate a deal. Is it worth calling Pittsburgh for Jalen Ramsey? Not sure he’s available, but the Lions’ defense seems far from settled.”
– Jeremy Fowler
How realistic are Detroit Lions trades for Kristian Fulton or Jalen Ramsey?
Of the two options the NFL insider suggested, a deal for Fulton seems very possible. If the 2020 second-round pick has fallen out of favor with Kansas City defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, then it means he is certainly expendable.
In the same report, fellow ESPN insider Dan Graziano noted the Chiefs will probably be prioritizing a wide receiver on the trade market. Would the Lions be willing to part with a player like Isaac Teslaa, and would KC be interested in the 2025 third-round pick?
The Steelers are in a similar boat as the Lions with a 2-2 record heading into Week 5. They are not in panic mode just yet, so it seems very unlikely they would move the eight-time Pro Bowler. However, if they fell to 2-4 with losses to the Indianapolis Colts and Tampa Bay Buccaneers over the next two weeks, maybe that changes.
Ramsey has two years and a lot of money left on his contract. Moving off of that by taking advantage of a desperate Lions team would be smart business for the Steelers if this becomes a lost season.