We’re still in the dead zone of the NFL year, and the Detroit Lions won’t be back to training camp for another three weeks. Now is the time to experiment a bit and create some trade proposals that could address some of the Lions’ issues.
The Lions did not really address the edge rusher situation this offseason. There’s a chance that they may still bring back Za’Darius Smith, but that has not happened yet.
The Lions are most likely looking to save some money so that they can get some major extensions done with Aidan Hutchinson, Jameson Williams, Jahmyr Gibbs, Sam LaPorta, Brian Branch, and Jack Campbell.
We have a proposal that could kill two birds with one stone. The Lions can get some edge rusher help and then free up some cap space, too. Here’s the proposal:
Lions get: A.J. Epenessa
Bills get: DJ Reader
Here’s the thought process behind this move. For starters, let’s talk about the Reader aspect of this move.
It seems kind of crazy to trade Reader at this time while the Lions don’t have Alim McNeil, but they’re pretty deep in the middle of that defensive line and even Brad Holmes will tell you that.
“We feel pretty good. Actually, we’re getting kinda heavy on the defensive line.” Holmes said at the league meetings in April.
Reader is coming off a healthy season after multiple quad injuries, but it not his best season. He didn’t show the run stopping prowess you were used to seeing in Cincinatti and he had probably the worst passing rushing year of his career.
There’s still some value to having him in Detroit, but the Lions still have Tyleik Williams, Roy Lopez, Levi Onwuzurike, Mekhi Wingo, and Pat O’Connor. That’s a really solid group.
In terms of cap space, this move would open up $11.6 million in cap space today. The Lions would have to eat $3.6 million in dead cap next year, but at this point they’re doing that anyways since his void years triggered in March and he’s owed some of his signing bonus still.
On the Epenessa side of things, the Lions get a 26-year-old pass rusher who is slated to come off the bench in Buffalo now that the Bills have signed Joey Bosa and have Gregory Roseau on the other side.
Epenessa can start in Detroit and can probably thrive here a little more than he did in Buffalo since he would have a better supporting cast with the Lions.
Epenessa is not going to be a Pro Bowler or anything like that. This isn’t Trey Hendrickson, or Myles Garrett, or even Kayvon Thibodeaux. But he’s a solid player who can get you 30 pressures and and 6-7 sacks.
He’s also a player who brings a just a near $6 million cap hit in 2025 and would probably cost you $8-10 million a year to re-sign after the season. If it doesn’t work out, you just move on like you were likely to move on from Reader after this season.
It’s a low risk trade with potential for rewards. Maybe not huge rewards, but rewards nonetheless.
