Dan Campbell and Brad Holmes are in lockstep as the Lions approach the Oct. 31 trade deadline: talent doesn't trump team chemistry.
It doesn't mean Holmes won't be active in seeking upgrades, with the Lions holding a two-game lead in the NFC North. Their roster certainly has needs. Pass rusher is one, cornerback is another. Running back could be a third. But not every talented player is worth adding for the Lions, who have emerged as contenders with a tight-knit, egoless locker room.
Campbell declined to get into specific needs when asked about the deadline Tuesday on 97.1 The Ticket, other than to reiterate that "Brad and I have talked, nothing at length."
"I know he’s going through a lot of things and when it becomes serious, he’ll bring it to me," Campbell said. "But right now, I’m concerned with the guys we have in this building and getting them right. And I’m also concerned with chemistry. I don’t ever want to do anything that’s going to mess the chemistry of this team up, either, because we got the right guys here right now."
The Lions were yanked back down to earth last week with a 38-6 loss to the Ravens. It was a beating that may have come at the right time, exposing some of Detroit's flaws with the deadline around the corner. If they want to make a splash, the extra third-round pick in the 2024 draft they acquired in the T.J. Hockenson trade will help.
But again, not all talent is created the same. The Lions will only pursue players who reflect their gritty, team-first values.
"This is where Brad and I are really tied to the hip. He understands, first of all, the value’s gotta be right. It’s gotta be something that we feel like can help us, fits us," said Campbell. "But it also can’t be something that’s going to mess with what we got going on here. He’s mindful of that, and I appreciate that about him. He knows what I’m talking about, what we’re about and we’re not going to mess with the vibe of this team. If I really felt that way, there’s no talent that’s worth that."
There's also an emotional effect presented by any trade, especially if it results in an established player losing his job to a newcomer.
"There’s nothing easy about that, if it comes to that," Campbell said. "There’s not. I think what you do is you start by addressing the captions and you let them know what you’re doing and why you’re doing it and then you gotta let the team know. And they also gotta know, there’s nothing personal about it. It’s the hard side of this business."