{"id":273798,"date":"2026-04-11T10:38:20","date_gmt":"2026-04-11T14:38:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/?p=273798"},"modified":"2026-04-11T10:17:57","modified_gmt":"2026-04-11T14:17:57","slug":"top-5-detroit-lions-trade-targets-during-the-2026-nfl-draft","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2026\/04\/11\/top-5-detroit-lions-trade-targets-during-the-2026-nfl-draft\/","title":{"rendered":"Top 5 Detroit Lions Trade Targets During The 2026 NFL Draft"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Detroit Lions still have plenty of needs heading into the 2026 NFL Draft, which begins in less than two weeks. However, GM Brad Holmes has proven he will select the players he wants, regardless of perceived team needs or positional value. Holmes also loves making moves during the draft. With nine picks at his disposal, Holmes could use some to acquire veterans who are available via trade. The Lions are hoping to erase the sting of a disappointing 2025 and get back to the playoffs. Several players on the trade market could help Detroit get back to its winning ways. Here are my top 5 Detroit Lions trade targets during the 2026 NFL Draft:<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Alex Highsmith, Edge, Pittsburgh Steelers<\/a><\/span><\/h2>\n

The Lions are expected to take an edge rusher with one of their top two picks. However, if Holmes sees greater value elsewhere, he should make a deal<\/a> for the productive Highsmith. The veteran has formed a lethal pass-rushing duo with former Defensive Player of the Year T.J. Watt in Pittsburgh. Highsmith could do the same with Aidan Hutchinson<\/a> in Detroit.<\/span><\/p>\n

With young edge rushers Nick Herbig and Jake Sawyer developing for the Steelers, Alex Highsmith has become expendable. Highsmith has cap hits of $20 and $21 million over the final two years of his current deal. Not exactly cheap, but nowhere near the money paid to top pass rushers. Acquiring that contract would require some salary cap gymnastics. Highsmith, coming off a 9.5-sack season, would be considered a bargain.<\/span><\/p>\n

It is rumored that the Steelers want a second-round pick for Highsmith. That would be a steep price to pay.\u00a0 Probably not one Holmes would be willing to meet. Luckily for Detroit, it is no secret that the Steelers want to load up on 2027 picks for a better shot at drafting a franchise QB. If Holmes could get Highsmith for a fourth this year and next year\u2019s third, he should pounce.<\/span><\/p>\n

2. Josh Sweat, Edge, Arizona Cardinals<\/a><\/span><\/h2>\n

By far the biggest fish on this list, Josh Sweat would be a fantastic addition for the Lions. But is he a realistic one? Surprisingly, yes. Pride of Detroit has a great piece<\/a> on why the Lions should, and could, trade for Sweat.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Sweat is a fantastic edge rusher. Combined with Hutchinson, Detroit could have a lethal pass-rush duo. The Arizona Cardinals are rebuilding, again. Gaining valuable extra draft picks for Sweat would be the smart play for Arizona. The Lions should aggressively pursue a deal for Sweat, who is fresh off a 12-sack 2025 campaign.<\/span><\/p>\n

As noted by Pride of Detroit, Sweat is only set to count a tad under $11 million of 2026 cap space. For everything that Sweat brings to the table, there may not be a better bargain in the NFL. If the price of fourth- and fifth-round picks is accurate, or even in the ballpark, Brad Holmes needs to strike a deal. Lions\u2019 fans who were left seething after the team passed on acquiring Maxx Crosby or Trey Hendrickson<\/a> would find plenty of comfort if Detroit adds Josh Sweat.<\/span><\/p>\n

3. Uchenna Nwosu, Edge, Seattle Seahawks<\/a><\/span><\/h2>\n

The Seattle Seahawks could be looking to move on from one of their Super Bowl LX heroes. Uchenna Nwosu, who had a 45-yard pick-six<\/a> in Seattle\u2019s dominant SB victory, could be the odd man out for Seattle\u2019s defense. With only four selections in this year\u2019s draft, I expect the Seahawks to offload a couple of players for more picks. The 30-year-old Nwosu would make a lot of sense for the Lions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Nwosu recorded seven sacks in 2025. The eight-year veteran could become a vital member of Detroit\u2019s defense in 2026. Free agent signee D.J. Wonnum<\/span><\/a> is a better run-stopper than a pass rusher. With Wonnum handling early-down duties, Nwosu can pick up the slack in passing situations. Recent reports say Seattle is leaning toward keeping Nwosu, but he could have a robust trade market if Seattle is willing to part with him. A mid-round pick would be a fair price for both teams.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/smartframe-embed><\/p>\n

4. Kenny Moore II, CB, Indianapolis Colts<\/a><\/span><\/h2>\n

The Indianapolis Colts and Kenny Moore II have mutually agreed to seek out a trade.<\/a> The Detroit Lions should be his new team. After last year\u2019s blockbuster trade for Sauce Gardner,<\/a> the Colts are eager to find Moore a much-needed change of scenery.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Lions make perfect sense. No matter how hard Detroit tries to improve its secondary, it always seems to need more. Terrion Arnold, the team\u2019s first-round pick in 2024, has been inconsistent, at best. Embroiled in serious legal drama,<\/a> Arnold\u2019s availability for 2026 is in question. Ennis Rakestraw, who was picked in the following round, has been unable to stay on the field.<\/span><\/p>\n

Counting on either to excel in 2026 would be very risky. Moore, a nine-year veteran, could provide Detroit with a solid, dependable option. Moore is set to cost just under $10 million this season, but none of that money is guaranteed. With Moore on the roster, the Lions could afford to wait out Arnold\u2019s situation (and any potential league discipline), while giving Rakestraw another year to prove he should be part of the team\u2019s future.<\/span><\/p>\n

5. Spencer Rattler, QB, New Orleans Saints<\/a><\/span><\/h2>\n

Even after bringing Teddy Bridgewater for a third stint in Detroit, the Lions should look to add a young backup QB to develop behind Jared Goff. Spencer Rattler would be an excellent target.<\/a> Rattler is most definitely available,<\/a> as 2025 second-round pick Tyler Shough has cemented himself as the Saints\u2019 starter.<\/span><\/p>\n

Don\u2019t let Rattler\u2019s 1-13 record as a starter fool you. He was thrust into an unwinnable situation in New Orleans. With a roster devoid of talent and ravaged by injury, very few QBs could have found success in Rattler\u2019s position. Now that Shough is entrenched as QB1, the Saints are looking to deal Rattler.<\/span><\/p>\n

That is fantastic news for the Lions, who seem to be on the lookout for a new QB2 every season. Trading for the talented Rattler, who would be a high-end, long-term backup who can be trusted to start, would be an extremely wise use of the late-round pick needed to consummate the deal.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Detroit Lions could look to trade draft picks for solid, veteran talent during the draft. Here are the 5 top trade targets for the Lions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5722,"featured_media":273880,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1647,24],"tags":[33533,33883,6343,20517,32089,8553,6826],"class_list":["post-273798","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nfl-draft","category-lions","tag-2026-nfl-draft","tag-2026-nfl-free-agency","tag-alex-highsmith","tag-josh-sweat","tag-kenny-moore-ii","tag-spencer-rattler","tag-uchenna-nwosu"],"modified_by":"Sue Levine","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/273798","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5722"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=273798"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/273798\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":273862,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/273798\/revisions\/273862"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/273880"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=273798"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=273798"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=273798"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}