The Detroit Lions notched their seventh victory of the season on Sunday, as Dan Campbell's squad stormed into Lambeau Field and picked up a 24-14 win over the Green Bay Packers. Detroit is now 7-1 and has sole possession of first place in the NFC North.
The Lions' offense deserves a ton of praise for the team's Week 9 victory, but Aaron Glenn's defense put together one of their strongest performances of the season. The Packers' offense was flustered for most of the day, as Detroit held Green Bay to 3/12 on third down, and safety Kerby Joseph snagged a momentum-shifting pick-six at the end of the first half.
Despite a dominant performance on the road, the Lions' pass rush underperformed. Detroit struggled to generate pressure without blitzing and didn't tally a single sack on Sunday.
With Aidan Hutchinson and Marcus Davenport out for the season, the Lions must acquire an edge rusher to bolster their weakest unit, and CBS Sports' Cody Benjamin predicts general manager Brad Holmes will pull off a blockbuster deal for New Orleans Saints veteran Cameron Jordan before Tuesday's deadline.
"For weeks, the Cleveland Browns' Za'Darius Smith has been linked to Motown as a logical, if not probable, acquisition to help fill the void left by the injured Aidan Hutchinson. What if another contender swoops in to claim the Pro Bowler? Jordan would make for a serviceable consolation prize. Despite his strong ties to the New Orleans Saints, the longtime pass rusher could be available amid the team's coaching change."
Jordan has had an underwhelming 2024 campaign, posting zero sacks and 11 quarterback pressures in nine games. The eight-time Pro Bowler has clearly lost a step but would immediately step in as a starter on Detroit's defensive line and provide a veteran voice to the defense.
Acquiring the veteran pass rusher shouldn't be too challenging for the Lions' front office, as a Day 3 pick should get the deal done, and Jordan's contract is reasonable.
There are better options on the market, but Cameron Jordan would be a solid low-risk, high-reward addition from Brad Holmes. The former first-round pick is no longer an elite pass rusher but will strengthen the team's most pressing issue and bring quality postseason experience to the Motor City.
