The Detroit Lions made several notable moves in the offseason, including extending linebacker Jack Campbell's contract. However, one ESPN analyst believes the Lions have paid too high a price for him. 

While rating every team’s offseason, ESPN analyst Seth Walder praised a few of Detroit’s moves. However, he was not a huge fan of the decision to offer Campbell a four-year, $81 million extension. 

“The Lions also locked up Campbell to a four-year $81 million extension, securing the linebacker for years to come,” wrote Walder on June 30. “That strikes me as a little rich for Campbell, but not wildly out of line.”

In his June 30 ESPN article, Walder called the extension the offseason move that he disliked the most of all. On the other hand, his favorite move was the Lions' trade that moved running back David Montgomery to the Texans.

“Detroit’s best move of the offseason was dealing Montgomery for a fourth-round pick, seventh-round pick and OL Juice Scruggs,” wrote Walder. “Any time a team can get that type of a draft capital for a 29-year-old running back, it has to jump at the chance. The Lions were right to do so even though Isian Pacheco, who they signed in free agency, will likely be a downgrade.”

Walder called the decision to draft offensive lineman Blake Miller the biggest move that the Detroit Lions made. He also argued that the decision to replace veteran center Graham Glasgow with free agent Cade Mays was a “mild upgrade for a similar price.”

Meanwhile, another NFL analyst recently listed the pros and cons of training for a star to replace cornerback Terrion Arnold.

NFL analyst provides both good and bad side of trading for star

The Lions are in a tough spot after the arrest and subsequent release of outside cornerback Terrion Arnold. To address it, Vito Chirco of Sports Illustrated has looked at the possibility of the Lions trading to get cornerback Denzel Ward from the Cleveland Browns.

“Ward would be an undoubted upgrade over Arnold and would provide Dan Campbell’ squad with a highly capable running mate for fellow outside CB D.J. Reed,” wrote Chirco. “For starters, he secured at least two interceptions and 10 passes defended in each season from 2018-2024. He wasn’t as productive a season ago, earning a lowly 59.2 overall grade and a career-worst 59.4 coverage mark from Pro Football Focus. However, he remains a savvy vet, offering him a solid chance to bounce back in 2026.”

Ward has only had two winning seasons since being drafted fourth overall in the 2018 NFL Draft. After two seasons straight of finishing below .500 and trading away star edge rusher Myles Garrett, the Browns are in clear-cut rebuild mode. However, Ward hasn’t requested a trade yet.

The 29-year-old is in his second-to-last year of a five-year $100.5 million signed in 2022, meaning he’s due just $38 million over the next two seasons with no guaranteed money. With the Lions desperate for a cornerback, it would be a good option.

However, Chirco noted that the Browns could want multiple picks spread around between Day 2 and 3 of the NFL Draft. The analyst does not believe that Holmes would agree to such an offer for Ward.

Would you trade for Denzel Ward? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

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Written by

Dhruv Vishnu Nair

Edited by

Arundhoti Palit