The Detroit Lions are trying to bounce back from a tough season and amid training camp and the preseason, both Nick Fairley and Ndamukong Suh have come up in trade rumors and that could be an option for the team in 2014, as Suh is heading towards free agency and Fairley has started to slip on the depth chart, lining up with reserves in on practice earlier this week.
According to ESPN.com, Fairley has not had a great summer, as he showed up to training camp with more weight than the team expected and he also has lined up with the reserves at times and may not be guaranteed a starting position. Jim Caldwell has come in as the new head coach and all reports say that he is coming in with a hardline after many felt the team was undisciplined under former head coach Jim Schwartz. The Lions players did not do much to dispute that, as they dealt with a ton of penalties last season and also some off field trouble.
The defensive line usually rotates players as much as any position, but Fairley getting time with the reserves is telling, as the team is looking for him to step up and clearly he has not done that. The Lions also now have a major decision to make on Suh, as he is heading into the final year of his deal and he has a $22.4 million salary-cap number from his rookie contract. Suh is a very talented player, but he has had issues with discipline and on field actions and that could lead to an eventual deal if the two sides cannot agree on a contract.
Suh has put up some solid numbers, recording nearly 30 sacks in his 62 game career, but he also has been a polarizing player. Suh has been suspended for his hard hits and for his stomp against the Packers on Thanksgiving and now he could be a trade target for teams. Fairley has been up and down over the first three years of his career and he has 12.5 sacks in his first few seasons. Fairley had a career high 35 tackles and 6.0 sacks last season, but his development in the offseason appears to have taken him a step back and now he could be a candidate to move as well.
The Lions defense should get a shot in the arm from Ezekiel Ansah this season, as he is ready to come back after dealing with injuries. Ansah is in his second year with the team and after putting up eight sacks last season with 19 tackles and two forced fumbles, he looks ready to go.
