Dan Campbell doesn’t do complacency. He built the Detroit Lions into a juggernaut by demanding more—more grit, more aggression, and now, more star power. But after back-to-back heartbreaking playoff exits, the message is clear: close isn’t good enough. In 2023, they reached the NFC Championship but lost to the 49ers. In 2024, they had a franchise-best 15-2 record in the regular season, yet lost to the Commanders in the divisional round following the bye-week.

The Lions’ offense was a wrecking ball, lighting up scoreboards with jaw-dropping numbers. They had four games with 40 or more points and two games of 50+ points. But when it mattered most, their defense couldn’t hold the line. That’s why Campbell has his sights set on a game-changer.

The Lions are on the hunt to strengthen their defense. And if the latest rumors are to be believed, Detroit isn’t just looking for any defensive boost—they’re going after one of the league’s most dominant forces. They are in talks with the Browns over disgruntled star DE Myles Garrett. That combo would be crazy!

Garrett, for his part, is fed up with not even being remotely close to winning a championship. Earlier this month, he claimed to have discussed his future trajectory with NBA legend, LeBron James. Explaining that he wanted to move on for his betterment, he said, “I have a lot of respect for them, but I just don’t think we’re aligned on where the team is going in the near future.”

That’s what signaled an incoming for Dan Campbell. The 2023 DPOY winner has shown his talent. In the 2024 season, he played 17 games and recorded 3 fumbles, 1 defended pass, 14 sacks, 47 tackles (40 solo), and 28 QB hits. He became the first player in NFL history with 14 or more sacks in 4 consecutive seasons. That’s a mind-boggling achievement.

Myles Garrett single-handedly inspired the Browns defense as they had 41 sacks in the 2024 season. The Lions had only 37 sacks in 2024. They’re hoping to fill in the missing pieces into their locker room to translate their current dominance into a Super Bowl run. But for that, they also need to keep their weapons close.

Dan Campbell wants Aidan Hutchinson long term

While the Lions HC is busy finding new coaches after OC Ben Johnson left for the Bears and DC Aaron Glenn for the NY Jets, the front office is busy sorting out contracts. The most famous name among those players is Aidan Hutchinson. A severe leg injury cut his 2024 season short in week 6 against the Cowboys.

However, Dan Campbell has left the job to their GM, Brad Holmes. The first-round pick (2nd overall) of the 2022 NFL Draft has proved his value to the team time and again. In 39 games, the DE has 4 interceptions, 10 defended passes, 4 fumble recoveries, 28.5 sacks, 122 tackles (82 solo), and 65 QB hits. He signed a 4-year $35.7 million fully guaranteed contract in 2022. So, they have everything they need in place to keep him.

Holmes dropped a big update ahead of the NFL combine, claiming the franchise is in the early stages of talks with Hutchinson. That’s promising for the fans. However, there are a lot of other things at play. The team is going through attrition. So Dan Campbell and the GM are in constant talks discussing their road ahead. Maybe this could be just to reassure the player about the franchise’s goals. Maybe something even better for the fans.

Overall, the Lions are in pretty good shape. But things change with each minor alteration. Can they sustain their impressive performance this year as well? Adding a beast like Myles Garrett would definitely help in that endeavor.