While they have happened before, three-team trades in the NFL have been few and far between. Despite that, one NFL analyst recently suggested one for the Detroit Lions ahead of the 2024 campaign.
In his article, Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox offers up a scenario that sees the Lions, Arizona Cardinals and Dallas Cowboys making a deal. It ultimately results in Detroit landing Cardinals safety Budda Baker.
The trade terms are as follows:
Cardinals Get: WR Brandin Cooks, Lions’ 2025 fifth-round pick, Cowboys’ 2025 third-round pick
Cowboys Get: WR Donovan Peoples-Jones, RB Craig Reynolds, QB Hendon Hooker, Lions 2026 third-round pick
Lions Get: S Budda Baker
As much as we like Baker as a player, this isn’t a great trade for the Lions for a few reasons, the first of which is the Lions don’t really need a safety. Kerby Joseph and Ifeatu Melifonwu are a solid starting duo, and that duo might become an excellent trio if the Lions move Brian Branch to safety, something they are at least considering.
On top of that, the Lions are giving up a pair of picks — including a third-rounder — a much-needed depth receiver, and quarterback Hendon Hooker, who is slated to serve as the backup to Jared Goff.
While we still don’t know what Hooker is going to be, there’s at least a chance he’ll be a good player, and there’s no doubt he has a higher projected ceiling than Detroit’s other backup option, Nate Sudfeld.
If Hooker pans out, not only does he give the Lions an insurance policy in the event Goff has to miss time, he would also give them a valuable trade chip that would eventually return premium draft capital if Detroit goes that route.
If the Lions want to bring in an impact safety like Baker, they can simply sign one in free agency without having to give up what they would in this trade. There are still some available, with Justin Simmons being best of the bunch, and general manager Brad Holmes has ample cap space.