Lions Predicted to Consider Trading Veteran Edge Rusher

The NFL moved to having only one roster cutdown day this season. That was good news for undrafted rookies and other fringe roster players battling for a job.

Therefore, the NFL should see a flurry of roster changes across the league within the next 10 days. The Detroit Free Press’ Dave Birkett proposed one possible move for the Detroit Lions will be trading away a veteran edge rusher — Julian Okwara.

“The Lions have more depth across the board defensively than they’ve had in years and that’s particularly true with the edge rush/defensive line group,” wrote Birkett. “I had 11 linemen making my roster last week and think there are even more worthy candidates, but putting a roster together is a numbers game in many ways; that may be too many bigs to keep.

“Julian Okwara could be the odd edge rusher out, though maybe general manager Brad Holmes has a trade up his sleeve.”

Okwara finished last season on injured reserve because of an elbow injury. He posted 17 combined tackles, including 3 tackles for loss, 3 quarterback hits and 2 sacks in 10 games during 2022.

Lions Projected to Cut Julian Okwara

Birkett’s roster assessment differs slightly from the Lions’ own analysis in that Birkett placed Okwara among the defensive linemen. The Lions have him listed as a linebacker.

But it may not matter. As Birkett indicated, Detroit has more defensive depth across the board than the team has possessed in years.

Birkett predicted the Lions to keep 10 defensive linemen. If that becomes the reality, Detroit will be departing with a few quality defensive linemen, including perhaps defensive tackle Benito Jones.

In his latest roster assessment, Birkett implied Jones could be expendable because of the amount of snaps defensive end John Cominsky may place inside. However, Birkett’s latest projection had the Lions keeping Jones and departing with Okwara either through a trade or flat out roster cut.

Birkett did not elaborate on what Okwara’s trade value could be or what teams may be interested in the edge rusher. In all likelihood, if the Lions attempt to trade Okwara just before the final roster cutdown day, his value won’t be very high unless a team desperately wants him.

That’s because other NFL teams will know he will probably be available to sign in free agency within the next few days.

Lions’ Defensive Line, Linebacker Depth Heading into Preseason Week 3

There are only seven linebackers on Detroit’s 90-man roster if one counts Okwara as a defensive end. But there’s terrific depth in the unit.

Birkett projected the Lions to keep six of those seven linebackers and to stash the other one on the practice squad.

Such a plan wouldn’t leave room for Okwara either.

Okwara showed promise during his second season in 2021 when he posted 6 tackles for loss, 9 quarterback hits and 5 sacks in 13 games. He also had 2 pass defenses, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery and an interception.

But the regression, in part because of his elbow injury, along with Detroit’s defensive depth, could back general manager Brad Holmes into a corner. Holmes may need to attempt trading Okwara to avoid losing him for nothing.

This preseason, Okwara is generally not helping his case to remain with the team. He earned a 78.9 player grade (out of 100) from Pro Football Focus against the New York Giants, but on August 19 versus the Jacksonville Jaguars, he posted a 45.4 PFF grade.

It’s possible that in addition to Okwara, his brother, Romeo, could be on Detroit’s trade block as well. Bleacher Report’s Matt Holder urged the Lions to consider trading Romeo on August 15.