It's been almost a decade since the 2014 NFL season and the Detroit Lions are still looking for their first Super Bowl win. While there have been some bright spots for the team in recent years, fans can't help but wonder what could have been if certain trade rumors had come to fruition back in 2014. In this article, we'll take a look back at some of the biggest trade rumors from that year and discuss how they could have impacted the Lions' fortunes.
The Josh Gordon Trade Rumors
One of the biggest rumors surrounding the Lions in 2014 was a potential trade for Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon. At the time, Gordon was coming off a season in which he led the league in receiving yards despite only playing in 14 games. The Lions were in need of a playmaker on offense and Gordon seemed like the perfect fit.
Unfortunately, the trade never materialized and Gordon went on to miss most of the 2014 season due to a suspension for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy. While Gordon has shown flashes of greatness since then, he has also struggled with off-field issues and has not been able to recapture the form he showed in 2013. It's impossible to say for certain how the Lions would have fared with Gordon on their roster, but it's safe to say that he would have been a significant upgrade over the team's other options at wide receiver.
The Ndamukong Suh Trade Rumors
Ndamukong Suh was one of the most dominant defensive players in the NFL during his time with the Lions. However, his tenure with the team was marred by controversy, including a number of on-field incidents that resulted in fines and suspensions. As a result, there were persistent rumors in 2014 that the Lions were considering trading Suh to another team.
In the end, the Lions decided to keep Suh for the 2014 season and he went on to have one of the best seasons of his career. However, the team was unable to come to terms on a new contract with Suh following the season and he ultimately signed with the Miami Dolphins as a free agent. It's impossible to say for certain how the Lions would have fared if they had traded Suh in 2014, but it's clear that his departure was a significant blow to the team's defense.
The Larry Fitzgerald Trade Rumors
Larry Fitzgerald has been one of the most consistent and productive wide receivers in the NFL for more than a decade. In 2014, there were rumors that the Lions were considering a trade for Fitzgerald, who was coming off a season in which he caught 82 passes for 954 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Ultimately, the Lions decided not to pursue a trade for Fitzgerald and he remained with the Arizona Cardinals. While Fitzgerald has continued to be a productive player in the years since, it's hard to say whether he would have been a good fit for the Lions' offense. The team already had Calvin Johnson, who was one of the best wide receivers in the NFL at the time, and it's unclear how Fitzgerald would have fit into the team's game plan.
The Marshawn Lynch Trade Rumors
Marshawn Lynch was one of the most fearsome running backs in the NFL during his time with the Seattle Seahawks. In 2014, there were rumors that the Lions were considering a trade for Lynch, who was coming off a season in which he rushed for 1,257 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Ultimately, the Lions decided not to pursue a trade for Lynch and he remained with the Seahawks. While Lynch continued to be a productive player in the years since, it's unclear how he would have fit into the Lions' offense. The team already had Joique Bell and Reggie Bush at running back, and it's possible that Lynch would have been redundant on the roster.
Conclusion
Looking back at the Detroit Lions trade rumors from 2014, it's clear that the team had some opportunities to make significant upgrades to its roster. While it's impossible to say for certain how the team would have fared with different players on the roster, it's clear that some of the players who were rumored to be on the team's radar would have been significant upgrades over the players they had at the time.
Ultimately, the Lions were not able to make any of these trades work and the team has struggled to find consistent success in the years since. While fans will always wonder what could have been, the team can only focus on the present and work towards building a championship-caliber roster for the future.
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