The Detroit Lions already seemed to have plenty of options to boost their sagging defense this offseason, and another perfect solution may have just fallen into their lap.
In a trade market devoid of star pass rushers minus the potentially unavailable Myles Garrett, Harold Landry has emerged as a serious option for contenders. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that the linebacker has been given permission by the Tennessee Titans to seek a deal.
Titans have granted permission to former Pro-Bowl LB Harold Landry to seek a trade, per sources. Landry started all 17 games last season, finishing with 71 tackles, nine sacks, 18 pressures and four pass deflections. The 28-year-old Landry has 31.5 sacks in the last three seasons… pic.twitter.com/xXLOVrZioD
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 26, 2025
For Detroit, Landry could be a nice trade pivot. He’s not likely to command the type of king’s ransom return that the Cleveland Browns would seek for Garrett. Additionally, he is a year younger than Garrett, and has put up 50.5 sacks to go with two interceptions and 12 forced fumbles. He’s the kind of active edge disruptor that could make a difference in ratcheting up quarterback pressure for the Lions.
Brad Holmes explains difficulties of trading for and keeping high end pass rushers
Dealing for Garrett, arguably the best defensive player in the league, would be a difficult offseason endeavor. There’s lots of money involved and Detroit would have to cough up assets to make the deal. There could also be reluctance on both ends to consummate a trade, and it could be difficult to fit such a player in long-term. Holmes understands how tough it is to facilitate big moves for pass rushers.
“It’s hard, man. Just not a lot of those guys available. We lost a star pass rusher due to injury. Just because we lost a star pass rusher, that doesn’t mean other teams are going to say ‘Hey, we have a star pass rusher. I know you lost one, but we have one. Would you like to have this one?’ No, that’s a star pass rusher for that team and they’re trying to win games. It’s not just (during the) trade deadline, it’s free agency and during the year. Those guys are hard to find. Those guys are hard to acquire, and it’s hard to keep them financially. We have one that’s due for an extension and we’ve already kind of gotten into the planning stages about him. When you talk about adding another one, it’s like, can you financially add another one? Because you want to add the other one on top of everything else that you have and that makes it tough.”
While Garrett may or may not be available, it’s clear Landry will be. If the Lions want to boost their pass rush without spending a fortune in draft assets and future money, Landry represents a good option to fortify the defense with major production.
Update, 6:05 p.m. ET: ESPN’s Kimberly A. Martin reported the Lions were the team most interested in Garrett at last season’s trade deadline.
ICYMI: #Browns GM Andrew Berry told me Myles Garrett is “unmovable.”
I’m also told teams expressed interest in Myles Garrett ahead of last season’s trade deadline. The most interested team? The Lions.
As for now, Browns are expected to meet w/ Myles’ reps this week in Indy. https://t.co/HYOuuDKJOL
— Kimberley A. Martin (@ByKimberleyA) February 26, 2025
