Detroit Lions NFL trade deadline tracker: Latest news, rumors

NFL trade deadline day is upon us. After 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday, teams will not be permitted to trade any players for the rest of the 2023 season.

For the Detroit Lions, this is a rare opportunity to act as buyers. Sitting at 6-2 at the bye, the Lions are second in the NFC and hold a two-game lead in their division, with the Minnesota Vikings—now sans Kirk Cousins for the rest of the year—trailing them. It certainly feels like a window is open for the Lions to make a deep run in 2023, and their roster is far from complete.

It’s hard to know whether general manager Brad Holmes will be aggressive in this scenario or if he will continue to keep his eye on the future because the Lions have not been in this position under his tenure.

But as the day proceeds, we’ll update this post with the latest Lions-related trade deadline news and (reliable) rumors.

Here’s what we know so far (latest updates at the top):

Tuesday, October 31

• Bills trading for Packers CB Rasul Douglas (via Ian Rapoport)
• Bears CB Jaylon Johnson is expected to stay in Chicago (via Ian Rapoport)

Despite being given permission to seek out a trade, Johnson is staying with the Bears. Now to see whether the two sides can work out a contract extension with the additional complication that Montez Sweat will need a new deal, too. Though the Bears have a ton of cap space.

Lions are acquiring WR Donovan Peoples-Jones from the Cleveland Browns for a 2025 6th-round pick

• 49ers trading for EDGE Chase Young

The 49ers are sending a third-round pick to the Washington Commanders to acquire Young and give them a pass rusher to start opposite Nick Bosa. An already scary defense gets stronger as they attempt to halt a three-game losing streak.

• Vikings trade starting guard Ezra Cleveland to Jacksonville Jaguars

Cleveland is one of the better young guards in the NFL, but was in the final year of his rookie deal and the Vikings were not expected to be able to re-sign him. This move gets them something for him while turning to Dalton Risner—who has started each of the last two weeks as an injury replacement—as their new starting left guard.

• Vikings trading for QB Josh Dobbs

After losing Kirk Cousins for the season with an Achilles tear, the Vikings have added veteran quarterback Josh Dobbs to try and keep their season afloat. In eight starts with the Cardinals this year, Dobbs completed 62.8% of his passes for 5.9 yards per attempt, eight touchdowns and five interceptions for a 81.2 passer rating.

No trade terms yet.

UPDATE: The Vikings sent a sixth-round pick for Dobbs and a seventh-round pick, as first reported by Josina Anderson.

• Vikings “almost no chance” of trading EDGE Danielle Hunter, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler
• Bears trading for Washington EDGE Montez Sweat

In a bit of a surprise, the 2-6 Bears are BUYING and sending a 2024 second-round pick for Sweat. Chicago does have a bevy of draft picks but Sweat is 27 years old and in the final year of his deal. Clearly, Chicago expects to give him an extension.

• Bears CB Jaylon Johnson given permission to seek trade (via Jeremy Fowler)

Not directly Lions-related, but the NFC North could lose one of its best cornerbacks, as Johnson has asked out of Chicago after extension talks broke down, and it appears the Bears will allow him to pursue options.

Monday, October 30

• Lions coach Dan Campbell says how other contenders approach trade deadline will not impact them

The Seahawks (DT Leonard Williams) and Eagles (safety Kevin Byard) have already made trades to improve their roster in the past week. When asked if that impacts how the Lions will approach trade deadline day, Campbell said no.

“No, I don’t really think of (it like) that. I just think of what do we have here now? Look, I’ve talked to Brad, we’ve kind of gone back and forth, but they can do and have whatever they want. We’ll figure our stuff out here.

“I just know this, and I said this I don’t know probably a week ago. Here’s what I know 100 percent is whether we do something or don’t do something, I trust Brad 100 percent that it’s for the betterment of this team, it’s the right thing to do, so we’ll see where that goes.”

Saturday, October 28

• Lions GM Brad Holmes “grinding” for trade deadline

Lions coach Dan Campbell said Holmes was working his tail off over the past few days exploring options to improve the roster.

There’ll be some things that could come up. Now, Brad’s been grinding. I mean he hasn’t stopped on that so that’ll continue.