The Detroit Lions are swinging for the fences this offseason, and they’re not afraid to clear the bench to make room for a heavy hitter. Alternatively, consider it like swapping out a reliable fastball for a curveball that could clinch the World Series—if they nail the pitch.
On March 13, the Lions released veteran linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin, freeing $2 million in cap space. The move leaves $2.75 million in dead money but signals bigger ambitions. JRM was a cornerstone, but Dan Campbell seems to be playing chess, not checkers. Besides, Detroit’s eyeing a blockbuster trade. Enter Myles Garrett.
The 2023 Defensive Player of Year—and four-time sack king—reportedly wants out of Cleveland. “I have a lot of respect for them, but I just don’t think we’re aligned on where the team is going in the near future,” Garrett said February 15, citing advice from LeBron James. The Lions, hungry after back-to-back playoff heartbreaks, pounced. Garrett’s 2024 stats?
Coming up on the second year of a two-year deal, the move clears $2 million of cap space and leaves $2.75M in dead money. https://t.co/xIc8EV64tv
— Justin Rogers | Detroit Football Network (@Justin_Rogers) February 27, 2025
Try 14 sacks, 47 tackles, and an NFL-record fourth straight 14-sack season. Detroit’s defense? It coughed up leads like a rookie QB under blitz pressure. Pairing Garrett with their top-ranked offense (two 50-point games in 2024) could be Campbell’s “kneecap-biting” masterpiece.
But pulling off this trade is trickier than a Philly Special. Cleveland isn’t shopping Garrett lightly. Yet Campbell’s aggression—like a Hail Mary with seconds left—has fans buzzing.
This story is unfolding—stay locked in for the latest.
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