The Detroit Lions have steadily built up their defense under general manager Brad Holmes, who took over a struggling unit and helped shape it into a Super Bowl-caliber team over the past three years.
Linebacker Alex Anzalone has played a key role in that improvement, starting every one of the 57 games he’s played since joining the Lions four years ago. However, one source now suggests the team might be prepared to move on, naming the 30-year-old as a potential surprise trade option this offseason.
Spotrac raised the possibility that the Lions could shop Anzalone, who is entering the last season of a three-year, $18 million deal. SI.com’s Emmett Matasovsky supported the idea, saying there could be justification for dealing the veteran linebacker.
“Anzalone isn’t the most obvious choice, but there’s a reasonable argument for trading him,” Matasovsky explained. “He’s heading into the final year of his contract and is the oldest linebacker on the roster. The team also brought in Grant Stuard and locked up Derrick Barnes with a new multi-year deal.”
Even so, Matasovsky acknowledged that Anzalone’s contributions are valuable, calling him the team’s top linebacker in pass coverage and a dependable leader in the locker room.
“When Anzalone was sidelined with a broken forearm, the team definitely felt his absence,” Matasovsky added. “Each game where an opposing quarterback threw multiple touchdown passes happened while the Florida alum was out injured.”
There’s been no clear signal that the Lions plan to trade Anzalone, but Holmes told reporters this week that the team is open to making another major move soon. With the No. 28 overall pick in the upcoming NFL Draft, Holmes said the team could trade up or down depending on the situation.
He emphasized that the Lions’ careful roster development now allows them to prioritize the best talent available rather than just plugging roster gaps.
“In the first couple years, we were in a spot where the roster needed everything,” Holmes explained during his April 17 press conference, per ESPN. “Back then, I said it plainly: we needed good football players at every position.”
Holmes said that, even though the roster is stronger now, his desire to add more top-tier players hasn’t changed.
“We’re not going to force a pick just to fill a need,” Holmes said. “That’s not how we operate. But as you all keep speculating, you’re always trying to guess what we’ll do.”
When asked more directly about the team’s draft strategy, Holmes gave a simple and confident reply
