Between now and Week 1, these three Detroit Lions players could be traded.
With the quality they have in place, it has been easy to confidently estimate the majority of the Detroit Lions’ 53-man roster for the next season. Head coach Dan Campbell revealed on Tuesday, via Lions Wire, how many roster places are available.
“Yeah, Brad and I were talking yesterday, we had another evaluation with the coaches, personnel department,” Campbell said. “Probably, he and I – probably five, six, somewhere in there. Five or six give or take.”
Moving to the tentacle of trade possibilities to cut the roster, these three Lions could be traded before Week 1.
Three Detroit Lions players who could be the trade block before Week 1
3. TE James Mitchell
Mitchell is squarely on the roster bubble, as numerous players compete for the two remaining tight end positions. Shane Zylstra appears to be on strong ground for one position, while Mitchell, Parker Hesse, and others compete for the other.
Hesse has fullback utility, which appears to be advantageous given the Lions’ lack of a true fullback.
Going into the preseason finale, the battle for the TE3 and TE4 positions is definitely wide open. However, Mitchell may simply need more opportunities to fulfill his full potential. Even if he makes the roster, the route to success with the Lions is limited with Sam LaPorta and Brock Wright on board. That untapped potential could pique the eye of other teams.
2. RB Zonovan Knight
When the New York Jets released Knight late last preseason, the Lions took a chance on him. He was on the practice squad until David Montgomery was hurt early in the season, and he was nearly lost to another team before being added to the active roster. Then, a shoulder injury terminated his 2023 season early, but the Lions re-signed him in the offseason.
Montgomery, Jahmyr Gibbs, Sione Vaki, and Craig Reynolds are four running backs who will almost certainly be on the Lions’ 53-man roster. That also means that the latter two will most likely see little, if any, action against the Steelers in the preseason finale, owing to health concerns.
Knight has seen a decent amount of action in both preseason games (14 carries, two catches on three targets). However, he is also competing with Jermar Jefferson for the coveted RB5 spot, and it is not impossible that the Lions will maintain five running backs on the 53-man roster. If Knight is released, his chances of clearing waivers and returning to the practice squad appear minimal.
Knight had a solid debut season with the Jets in 2022, replacing Breece Hall, who was injured by a ruptured ACL. Over his final two years at North Carolina State, he had three kickoff return touchdowns and averaged over 31 yards per return. Running backs may be undervalued in general, but Knight’s utility is valuable as the NFL attempts to reinstate kickoff returns in the game.
On Tuesday, Campbell stated that if some players do not make the Lions’ roster, they will have the opportunity to showcase themselves for other teams against the Steelers.
Campbell says he wants to get guys exposure so that if they don't make it here, they can make it somewhere else. #Culture
— Mike Payton (@AtoZ_Payton) August 20, 2024
Knight is a clear contender for the type of exposure Campbell wants to offer players in the preseason finale. However, rather than cutting him and receiving nothing in return, it is possible that he will become a trade asset when teams make their decisions.
Note: Craig Reynolds suffered a lower body injury during Wednesday’s practice, which is worth keeping an eye on and could alter the equation here. But for now, Knight is a potential trade chip.
1. EDGE James Houston
Houston did not play in the second preseason game. To believe it wasn’t because he’s locked into a roster place may be a boulder to climb alone. A knee injury sustained in the preseason opener against the Giants appears to be the more likely reason for his absence against the Chiefs, and that game may have been viewed as quite critical for him given what came before it.
The Lions have given up on trying to turn Houston into a SAM linebacker, instead shifting his duties back to defensive end/edge rusher to let him to do what he does best. Diving beyond the surface of that would put him on the roster bubble, and possibly on the wrong side of it if there are internal concerns about his adaptability with a reduction in what he is being asked to accomplish.
However, Houston appears to be a potential tradeable asset for the Lions. Eight sacks in seven games to close his 2022 rookie season highlighted his talent as a pass rusher, but an injury that lost him the majority of last season hindered his follow-up. Even if he has finally proven to be a one-trick pony, that trick (pass rushing) is quite valuable.
James Houston to the Texans for a receiver. What do we think?⬇️ pic.twitter.com/BrHAKAUzKE
— Woodward Sports Network (@woodwardsports) August 21, 2024
What do we think about this deal?
James Houston for Adam Thielen👀 pic.twitter.com/QD4V6pU49U
— Woodward Sports Network (@woodwardsports) August 21, 2024
Houston is scheduled for a showcase game against the Steelers in the preseason finale, assuming he is healthy, since he was limited in Wednesday’s practice. Not only is this an opportunity for him to get off the roster bubble, but it may also pique the interest of other clubs in trading for him.