{"id":849236,"date":"2026-04-02T12:52:22","date_gmt":"2026-04-02T12:52:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/849236\/"},"modified":"2026-04-02T12:52:22","modified_gmt":"2026-04-02T12:52:22","slug":"the-lions-should-consider-a-trade-for-a-first-round-edge-rusher-they-once-had-a-ton-of-interest-in-and-what-it-would-cost-to-do-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/849236\/","title":{"rendered":"The Lions should consider a trade for a first-round edge rusher they once had a ton of interest in, and what it would cost to do it."},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Back in 2024, the Lions had multiple meetings with the Missouri edge rusher, but ultimately weren\u2019t able to draft him. Now it\u2019s worth taking a look at him on the trade market <\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<img width=\"5347\" height=\"3752\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/73755-usatsi_24009240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-1280 size-1280 wp-post-image\" alt=\"Cardinals DL Darius Robinson\" loading=\"lazy\"  data-hero=\"atoz-hero\" decoding=\"async\"\/><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCardinals DL Darius Robinson<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u00a9 Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images  <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Let\u2019s go back in time just a little bit to before the 2024 NFL Draft. The Detroit Lions met with a lot of players ahead of that draft, but one of the guys they met with the most, they weren\u2019t able to get. Now it\u2019s worth thinking about a trade for him. <\/p>\n<p>The Lions should consider trading for Cardinals edge rusher Darius Robinson<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" id=\"h-the-lions-had-a-formal-meeting-with-robinson-at-the-nfl-combine-they-talked-with-him-at-the-senior-bowl-they-had-him-in-for-a-local-visit-and-they-went-to-his-pro-day-and-talked-to-him-there-the-lions-were-interested-and-so-was-he\">The Lions had a formal meeting with Robinson at the NFL Combine, they talked with him at the Senior Bowl, they had him in for a local visit, and they went to his pro day and talked to him there. The Lions were interested and so was he. <\/p>\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Missouri edge Darius Robinson met with the Lions yesterday. He said his heart was pumping. Robinson grew up a Lions fan.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Mike Payton (@AtoZ_Payton) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/AtoZ_Payton\/status\/1762838540101063032?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">February 28, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" id=\"h-ultimatley-the-lions-who-had-the-28th-pick-moved-up-to-24th-to-get-terrion-arnold-and-robinson-was-taken-by-the-arizona-cardinals-two-picks-later-things-have-not-gone-well-for-him-so-far-let-s-just-be-honest-about-that\">Ultimatley the Lions, who had the 28th pick, moved up to 24th to get Terrion Arnold, and Robinson was taken by the Arizona Cardinals two picks later. Things have not gone well for him so far. Let\u2019s just be honest about that.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" id=\"h-robinson-missed-most-of-his-rookie-season-with-a-calf-injury-he-suffered-during-training-camp-and-only-got-to-play-the-final-six-games-of-the-year-in-2025-he-did-get-to-play-in-jonathan-gannon-s-scheme-where-nobody-is-really-the-starter-and-they-do-a-bunch-of-different-defensive-fronts\">Robinson missed most of his rookie season with a calf injury he suffered during training camp, and only got to play the final six games of the year. In 2025, he did get to play in Jonathan Gannon\u2019s scheme, where nobody is really the starter, and they do a bunch of different defensive fronts. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" id=\"h-the-scheme-just-did-not-fit-what-robinson-was-good-at-in-missouri-they-asked-him-to-stand-up-a-lot-when-he-s-much-better-on-the-line-setting-the-edge-against-the-run-or-kicking-inside-on-passing-downs-that-s-exactly-what-the-lions-would-want-to-use-him-for\">The scheme just did not fit what Robinson was good at in Missouri. They asked him to stand up a lot when he\u2019s much better on the line, setting the edge against the run or kicking inside on passing downs. That\u2019s exactly what the Lions would want to use him for. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" id=\"h-he-s-similar-to-marcus-davenport-in-the-sense-that-this-is-the-type-of-player-the-lions-are-looking-for-a-big-long-edge-capable-of-setting-the-run-and-getting-inside-tackles-plus-the-lions-can-move-him-inside-and-have-him-play-some-defensive-tackle-on-some-snaps\">He\u2019s similar to Marcus Davenport in the sense that this is the type of player the Lions are looking for. A big, long edge capable of setting the run and getting inside tackles. Plus, the Lions can move him inside and have him play some defensive tackle on some snaps. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" id=\"h-this-was-the-thing-that-got-robinson-drafted-in-the-first-round-he-was-on-the-best-run-stopping-edges-in-the-country-in-2024-and-had-that-pass-rush-juice-as-well-the-cardinals-just-didn-t-use-him-that-way-detroit-would\">This was the thing that got Robinson drafted in the first round. He was on the best run-stopping edges in the country in 2024 and had that pass-rush juice as well. The Cardinals just didn\u2019t use him that way. Detroit would. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" id=\"h-so-what-would-this-move-cost-the-lions-and-why-would-the-cardinals-move-on-after-just-two-seasons-let-s-answer-the-second-question-first-the-cardinals-have-the-third-pick-in-the-2026-nfl-draft-and-they-re-expected-to-take-one-of-the-top-two-edge-rushers-in-the-class-either-david-bailey-or-ruben-bain-jr-they-ll-have-josh-sweat-baron-browning-and-zaven-collins-ot-go-along-with-that-rookie\">So what would this move cost the Lions, and why would the Cardinals move on after just two seasons? Let\u2019s answer the second question first. The Cardinals have the third pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, and they\u2019re expected to take one of the top two edge rushers in the class. Either David Bailey or Ruben Bain Jr. They\u2019ll have Josh Sweat, Baron Browning, and Zaven Collins ot go along with that rookie. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" id=\"h-because-he-s-expendable-at-the-moment-and-it-didn-t-work-out-the-lions-could-probably-get-him-for-a-steal-and-make-the-still-just-24-year-old-their-prime-reclamation-project-something-they-ve-been-very-good-at-outside-of-davenport-see-al-quadin-muhammad-as-an-example-here-s-the-proposal\">Because he\u2019s expendable at the moment and it didn\u2019t work out, the Lions could probably get him for a steal and make the still just 24-year-old their prime reclamation project. Something they\u2019ve been very good at outside of Davenport. See Al-Quadin Muhammad as an example. Here\u2019s the proposal:<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" id=\"h-lions-get-darius-robinson-cardinals-get-181st-pick-fifth-round-in-the-2026-nfl-draft\">Lions get: Darius Robinson<br \/>Cardinals get: 181st pick (fifth-round) in the 2026 NFL Draft<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" id=\"h-that-is-more-than-doable-for-a-pick-that-we-ve-been-mocking-a-young-developmental-edge-rusher-for-most-of-the-time-anyway-in-this-case-they-get-a-guy-they-once-felt-pretty-good-about-who-fits-what-they-want-to-do\">That is more than doable for a pick that we\u2019ve been mocking a young developmental edge rusher for most of the time anyway. In this case, they get a guy they once felt pretty good about who fits what they want to do.<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/USATSI_27960932-scaled.jpg\" class=\"attachment-768 size-768\" alt=\"Detroit Lions executive vice president and general manager Brad Holmes speaks during media availability at Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026.\" itemprop=\"image\" loading=\"lazy\"  style=\"object-position:44% 24%\" \/>\t\t<\/p>\n<p class=\"query-card__category is-style-eyebrow\">Detroit Lions News<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/atozsports.com\/tag\/detroit-lions-news\/\" rel=\"tag nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Detroit Lions News<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/atozsports.com\/tag\/trade-rumors\/\" rel=\"tag nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Trade Rumors<\/a><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Back in 2024, the Lions had multiple meetings with the Missouri edge rusher, but ultimately weren\u2019t able to&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":849237,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2071],"tags":[146,113,153,2506,7,147,6,13812],"class_list":{"0":"post-849236","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-detroit-lions","8":"tag-detroit","9":"tag-detroit-lions","10":"tag-detroit-lions-news","11":"tag-detroitlions","12":"tag-football","13":"tag-lions","14":"tag-nfl","15":"tag-trade-rumors"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nfl\/116335212962944715","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/849236","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=849236"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/849236\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/849237"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=849236"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=849236"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=849236"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}