It’s the week of the NFL Draft, and the rumor mill is starting to churn out some interesting tidbits of information from “sources.”
With the Detroit Lions holding the No. 28 overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft, they find themselves in prime position to trade down with a team eager to secure a quarterback—and that fifth-year option—before the second round begins. Teams like the New York Giants, New Orleans Saints, and Pittsburgh Steelers were identified as quarterback-needy candidates by ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Monday. Someone from that group might be looking to move up in an effort to avoid competition from the Cleveland Browns, the team that currently holds the No. 33 pick and could also be targeting a quarterback should they not choose one with their first-round pick at No. 2.
Using the Fitzgerald-Spielberger NFL Draft Trade Value Chart, here are a few potential trade-back scenarios for the Lions should any of these rumors come to fruition.
Scenario 1: Trade 6 spots back with Giants
Lions get:
- Pick 34
- Pick 105 (fourth round)
Giants get:
- Pick 28
Total net value: +544
This one is pretty straightforward and would benefit the Lions from the standpoint of picking up an early Day 3 pick in this year’s draft. Detroit also currently holds pick No. 102, so another pick near that compensatory pick could provide them with the draft capital to potentially move up on Day 2, something Brad Holmes did most recently in 2023 with the Brodric Martin selection.
Scenario 2: Giants trade back with future picks
Lions get:
- Pick 34
- Pick 154 (fifth round)
- 2026 sixth-round pick
Giants get:
- Pick 28
- PIck 228 (seventh round)
Total net value: +423
In this scenario, Detroit opts to fill that gap between picks No. 130 and No. 196 with the Giants pick in the middle of the fifth round. The Lions also get an extra Day 3 pick in next year’s draft that could be used to recoup the loss of their own sixth-round pick in 2026—sent away in last year’s trade for Za’Darius Smith—or it could come in handy at this year’s trade deadline.
Scenario 3: Trade back 12 spots with Saints
Lions get:
- Pick 40
- Pick 184 (sixth round)
- 2026 third-round pick
Saints get:
- Pick 28
- Pick 228 (seventh round)
Total net value: +689
Similar to the scenario outlined above, but considering the drop from 28 to 40 is a bit more substantial, the Lions add something a little more valuable for their trouble with a future third-round pick.
Scenario 4: Future assets for Saints pick
Lions get:
- Pick 40
- 2026 second-round pick
Saints get:
- Pick 28
Total net value: +858
If Detroit is in a place where it’s quality over quantity with their draft picks, and all of their first-round graded players are off the board, they have a chance to slide back 12 spots and pick up a valuable second-round pick in next year’s draft.
The Steelers traded away their second-round pick, No. 52, to the Seattle Seahawks for DK Metcalf, so there isn’t much of a match when it comes to exploring trade-back scenarios with Pittsburgh.
Which of these trades would you prefer? Vote in our poll below or leave your own ideas in the comments!
