On Sunday the New England Patriots sat pass rusher Josh Uche for the day and that really signaled to everyone that a trade could be coming. The Detroit Lions seemed like the team that made the most sense, but then it turned out to be the Kansas City Chiefs that traded for the former Michigan Wolverine. Don't worry though, there might actually be another option in New England and the Patriots are selling right now.
The option we're talking about is actually a better player than Uche and could be a bigger part of the Lions future. We're talking about Keion White.
The Patriots took White in the second-round of last years draft and he has come on pretty strong in 2024. He has 27 pressures and five sacks through eight games and since he's still on a rookie deal, he might be the cheapest possible option for the Lions in terms of contract.
When it comes to trade compensation, that's where the Patriots are going to want more and that's where the Lions should strongly consider moving more. This is a 25-year-old pass rusher that can help the Lions out a lot this year and then be a massive help for them next season when the team gets Aidan Hutchinson back. This fixes the problem now and later. So here's what the Lions should offer:
Lions get: Keion White
Patriots get: 2025 second-round pick
I know that seems like a lot and that history tells you that Brad Holmes doesn't trade picks, but history lies a lot when it comes to that. You'd love for the Lions to offer a third-round pick here, but Holmes traded it. You see my point?
The Lions second round pick is pretty much a third-round pick at this point and with White being as young as he is and as productive as he is, this is better use of that pick than drafting a player if you ask me.
Whatever the Lions do, they need to do it, like now. The team struggled to generate a pass rush against Mason Rudolph and the Titans on Sunday, they now have a stretch of Jordan Love (maybe), C.J. Stroud and Trevor Lawrence ahead of them. They need all the help they can get.
