The Detroit Lions look to be at ease with their NFL roster heading into training camp. This offseason, Detroit’s front office’s decisions have received overwhelming praise. The defense has improved, with secondary gaps filled through free agency and the draft.
Before the start of the preseason, numerous NFL experts continue to propose a variety of transactions aimed at improving each team. NFL writer Mike Payton recently proposed a three-team blockbuster trade involving the Lions, Titans, and Raiders.
According to Payton, the Lions would acquire Treylon Burks, Malik Willis, Ameer Abdullah, and a 2025 fifth-round draft pick from the Raiders. The Titans would acquire Malcolm Rodriguez, Janarious Robinson, and a 2026 sixth-round pick from the Lions. Meanwhile, the Raiders will receive Hendon Hooker, a 2025 seventh-round pick from Detroit, and a 2025 fourth-round pick from the Titans.
“With Willis the Lions get a little younger at backup quarterback and they get a guy that has some NFL experience, but could use some stability and solid coaching for his position,” Payton wrote. “With Willis the Lions get a little younger at backup quarterback and they get a guy that has some NFL experience, but could use some stability and solid coaching for his position. If it doesn’t work out, the Lions now have the ability to reset and then draft their quarterback of the future in 2025 or 2026 and get a guy that’s much younger and can develop on the bench for a while and still be in his 20’s when he takes over.”
The addition of Burks to Detroit’s offense would be intriguing, given his stature fills a present need. Burks has 49 receptions for 665 yards and one score in two NFL seasons. “They also get a solid athlete with tremendous size in Treylon Burks,” Payton informed the audience. “The Titans have not been good at developing receivers, whereas the Lions have. With Burks on the roster, the Lions have the opportunity to develop this very young former first-round choice into the player he was supposed to be when he entered the draft in 2022. It would also be the third Titans receiver the Lions have improved.
