In their anticipated $82 million CB blockbuster trade proposal, Lions make a “Big Swing.”
At the Detroit Lions’ annual league meeting in Orlando, Florida on March 26, head coach Dan Campbell stated to media that the team has “urgency” in adding another cornerback. According to Campbell, the Lions are considering adding a free agent and possible draft picks. However, Mike Payton of AtoZ Sports recommended that the Lions try to trade for Patrick Surtain II, a 2022 All-Pro cornerback.
On March 26, Payton suggested that the Denver Broncos receive Surtain and the No. 147 overall pick in exchange for the Lions sending them the No. 29 overall choice from the 2024 first round and a 2025 fourth-round pick.
With Surtain’s contract almost up, the Broncos would need to exercise his highly expensive fifth-year option before signing him to a new, lucrative contract. This is because the team is set to start a rebuilding project, Payton wrote. They would have to search for a quarterback in addition to all of that because they aren’t selected among the top picks in this year’s selection.
“The Broncos can have more assets to use in a trade-up scenario for this year’s draft and the Lions can come in and offer them a chance to relieve themselves of having to make a big money offer to Surtain very soon.” In his second season with the Broncos in 2022, Surtain was named a first-team All-Pro. Surtain earned his second consecutive Pro Bowl in 2023, although he was not selected to the All-Pro team.
Surtain finished 2023 with 69 combined tackles, 12 pass defenses, and 1 interception in 17 games. In 50 career NFL games, he has 36 pass defenses and 7 interceptions.