With Tuesday's trade deadline looming, the Lions suddenly have a glaring need on their offensive line. Will Brad Holmes address it?
Left guard Christian Mahogany will be out until at least late December after injuring his ankle in the Lions' loss to the Vikings on Sunday. And Mahogany's injury came on a day where left tackle Taylor Decker, already playing through a shoulder injury, briefly left the game with a knee injury, rookie right guard Tate Ratledge briefly left with a shoulder injury and star right tackle Penei Sewell played through a shoulder injury of his own, while center Graham Glasgow had one of his worst games of the season.
Jared Goff was sacked five times, tied for the most of his Lions tenure, and pressured a season-high 18 times. And the Lions averaged just 3.3 yards per carry on the ground. Kayode Awosika stepped in for Mahogany, after briefly spelling Ratledge, but the onus is on Holmes to fortify the trenches before the 4 p.m. trade deadline on Tuesday.
Here are a handful of potential trade targets for Detroit on the interior of the offensive line. The Lions will be seeking pending free agents, as they're not in position to take on significant cap charges in 2026 and beyond. They have about $22 million in cap space for the rest of this season, one of the higher figures in the NFL.
Kevin Zeitler, TEN
If anyone can step into the O-line rather seamlessly right now, wouldn't it be the guard who started 16 games for the Lions last season? The 1-8 Titans are in sell mode and Zeitler, the 14-year vet, is having a solid season on a one-year, $9 million deal. Here's the catch: he's played his entire career at right guard, and so has Ratledge going back to college. The Lions would have to be comfortable moving one of them, likely Ratledge, to left guard. There's no guarantee that it would work, or represent an upgrade over Awosika.
Joel Bitonio, Wyatt Teller, CLE
Bitonio has been one of the best left guards in the NFL for the better part of a decade, a Pro Bowler each of the past seven seasons. He's cruising right along in year 12. Teller, a three-time Pro Bowler, has been similarly steady at right guard. Both are free agents-to-be. The Browns might not love the idea of weakening their offensive line in front of a rookie quarterback, but they're 2-6 and going nowhere and will get calls on their starting guards, who could walk after this season.
The Lions would have to pay up for either one. It bears mention that they don't have a third-round pick in next year's draft, having dealt the two they did have in their draft-day trade this year for receiver Isaac TeSlaa. And a fourth-rounder alone might not be enough to draw the Browns' interest. But Holmes has connected with Browns GM Andrew Berry on trades at the last two deadlines, for Za'Darius Smith last year and Donovan Peoples-Jones the year prior, so Cleveland and Detroit feel like partners to watch.
John Simpson, NYJ
Can the Lions get Aaron Glenn on the phone? A six-year vet, Simpson has started every game the last three seasons at left guard and is in the final year of his contract with the Jets. He's not the same established force as the aforementioned players, but Simpson was one of the top-graded guards in the league just last season, per PFF.
Evan Brown, ARI
Brown started 12 games for the Lions in each of their first two seasons under Holmes and Dan Campbell, between right guard and center. He's been the Cardinals' starter at left guard the last two seasons. Brown hasn't had a great year, ranking 70th in the NFL among qualified interior offensive linemen, per PFF -- one spot behind Glasgow. But he's familiar with how the Lions operate under offensive line coach and run-game coordinator Hank Fraley.
Brown does carry a $6.5 million cap hit in 2026, but could be released for a dead cap charge of $1.5 million. The Cardinals are last in the NFC West at 2-5.
Jon Runyan, Greg Van Roten, NYG
The 2-7 Giants have two veteran guards who have started every game this season in Jon Runyan and Greg Van Roten. Of course, part of the reason the Giants are 2-7 is that neither one has played very well. Runyan, a six-year vet, mans the left side and carries an $11.75 million cap hit next season, but could be cut for a charge of $2.5 million. Van Roten, an 11-year vet, mans the right side and is on a one-year deal.