Detroit, MI

NFL.com proposes blockbuster Detroit Lions draft-day trade

Published

1 hour ago

April 1, 2026

NFL.com proposes blockbuster Detroit Lions draft-day trade

The Detroit Lions haven’t made many headlines for their offseason moves this year, and that’s been mostly by design. Detroit is trying to manage a tight budget, make fringe improvements, and keep their long-term cap health in a good spot.

But if there’s one place they could make a splash, it’s in the upcoming NFL Draft, and NFL.com writer Eric Edholm proposed a gigantic trade that would certainly grab the attention of the entire league. Here’s Edholm’s proposal:

2026 first-round pick — 7th overall
2027 third-round pick
TE Ben Sinnott

TE Sam LaPorta
2026 first-round pick — 17th overall
2026 sixth-round pick — 205th overall

Trading away LaPorta for a pick upgrade in the first and sixth-to-third round—albeit in 2027—would certainly draw some reactions. Here’s how Edholm justified the move:

“First off, I don’t think LaPorta will be traded. But it wouldn’t totally floor me if he was,” Edholm wrote. “LaPorta has been great, and losing him hurts Detroit’s offense, but the big picture must be considered: LaPorta is entering the final year of his rookie deal and is coming off back surgery.”

Later adding, “Why would Detroit move up to seven? I suspect to acquire a foundational left tackle. That position is their biggest remaining worry, and their guy might not last until 17. It would be a big risk, but a potentially smart one financially and football-wise, and Brad Holmes has never shied away from making waves in Round 1.”

In short, trading LaPorta would help Detroit’s difficult salary cap management by avoiding paying a pricey extension. Meanwhile, a trade up into the top-10 would help the put the finishing touches on their offensive line with a franchise left tackle.

It’s a well-reasoned trade, even if it’s likely to draw some visceral reactions from fans who love LaPorta.

But would the Lions actually do it? Let’s debate.

Lions general manager Brad Holmes has never been shy about doing what he needs to do to get his guy in the NFL Draft. So if there’s a tackle he’s particularly fond of, I would not be surprised to see him make an aggressive move to get him. The Lions said fixing the offensive line is “everything” this offseason, and it still feels like they’re one big move away from accomplishing that.

Additionally, the potential cap savings are significant. As Edholm points out, the top-end market for a tight end extension is creeping up to $20 million a year, and with likely extensions coming for both running back Jahmyr Gibbs and linebacker Jack Campbell—and maybe safety Brian Branch—it’s possible LaPorta could be the odd one out. A few years ago, Holmes made the bold decision to trade away tight end T.J. Hockenson, and the Lions quickly recovered by snagging LaPorta in the draft. Now, the Lions were in a completely different stage of roster building at this point, and Hockenson was a remnant from the previous regime, but it shows Holmes is willing to move on from a talented player prior to giving them an extension.

Why the Lions probably don’t do it

For one, I think the Lions value LaPorta more than people realize. The Lions tight end has oddly been topic of trade proposals for the past year, as fans and analysts wonder how Detroit will navigate the future of that 2023 draft class. But the Lions have shown no indications they are even thinking of moving on from LaPorta. Holmes continues to reiterate that he wants all of those first four picks from the 2023 draft locked up long term.

Additionally, something coach Dan Campbell told Dan Miller this week really resonated with me in regards to how much they value LaPorta. Campbell and Miller were discussing the team’s desire to improve in the running game, as evidenced by their investments in the offensive line this offseason. But Campbell reminded Miller that losing their top two tight ends at the end of the season also played a huge factor in their lowered efficiency on the ground.

“Some of it was losing LaPorta and Brock Wright,” Campbell said. “That had a significant blow, too.”

LaPorta burst onto the NFL scene thanks to a super productive rookie season when it comes to the passing game (86 catches, 889 yards, 10 TDs). But his game has grown the most as of late as a run blocker. For a team that is that devoted to the run, I’m not sure they’d be willing to part ways with a huge part in that success.

Beyond that, it’s also very, very possible that the Lions can find their long-term offensive tackle staying put at 17 overall. Current projections have anywhere between three and seven first-round talents at offensive tackle, and while a trade into the top-10 would nearly guarantee Detroit’s ability to draft one of them, that could be an unnecessary price to pay. On top of that, the Lions aren’t actually adding any additional picks with this trade, just significantly upgrading two.

Still, it’s an interesting thing to think about, and I don’t believe it’s particularly outlandish. Though, I ultimately agree with Edholm in that I would be surprised if the Lions actually pulled the trigger on a trade like this.

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Detroit, MI

Cade Cunningham joins Pistons on bench for 1st time since injury

Published

13 hours ago

April 1, 2026

Press Room

Cade Cunningham joins Pistons on bench for 1st time since injury

Cade Cunningham made his first public appearance since suffering a collapsed lung, sitting on the bench in street clothes during the Detroit Pistons’ home game on Tuesday, March 31, for a 127-116 win over the Toronto Raptors.

The All-Star guard hadn’t been with the team during a game since he went down with a left lung pneumothorax on the road against the Washington Wizards on March 17.

He was spotted briefly at the team’s Midtown practice facility March 25 during their morning shootaround, working with trainers in the weight room.

The team announced March 19 that Cunningham will be reevaluted in two weeks, which falls on Thursday, presumably before they host the Minnesota Timberwolves. With six regular-season games remaining for the Pistons (55-21), he is five games short of achieving end-of-season award eligibility; this season he is averaging 24.5 points, 9.9 assists and 5.6 rebounds per game.

“He’s been around, he’s been vocal and his presence has always been there since he went down,” temmate Jalen Duren said Tuesday. “I know the fans probably haven’t seen him at a game, but he hasn’t went anywhere. He’s still been with us, he’s still been communicating every game, every practice. We’ve still been able to see him at the facility. It was just another day for us.”

Watch our podcast, “The Pistons Pulse,” discuss the Cade Cunningham injury fallout, the playoff chase and more:

Contact Omari Sankofa II at osankofa@freepress.com. Follow him on Bluesky and/or X @omarisankofa.

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Detroit, MI

Sheffield sets focus on key issues in first State of City speech. How to watch

Published

1 day ago

March 31, 2026

Press Room

Sheffield sets focus on key issues in first State of City speech. How to watch

Detroit ― Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield is set to deliver her first State of the City speech Tuesday night as she is expected to focus on her plans to improve the city’s neighborhoods and crack down on smaller crimes such as property theft.

Sheffield is expected to unveil more details on how she aims to boost neighborhood spending and investment and her plan to crack down on “smaller crimes,” such as larcenies as well as breaking and entering into homes and cars, that many residents say is a major concern, Deputy Mayor Brian White told The Detroit News on Monday.

Sheffield is making her speech at Samuel C. Mumford High School on the city’s west side at 7 p.m. Tuesday. The address will be livestreamed on the City of Detroit’s official YouTube, Facebook and LinkedIn, with streaming beginning at 6:30 p.m. About 800 invited guests are expected to attend the event in person.

How to watch State of the City speech

Viewers can watch and listen to Sheffield’s speech across a variety of platforms that will start streaming at 6:30 p.m., about a half-hour before the speech is scheduled to begin:

Why Sheffield chose the high school as the site of her speech

The mayor chose Mumford High School for her first State of the City address to reinforce the theme that “she’s going to be a neighborhood-focused mayor,” White said.

“The high school is a prime example of what can happen when we put our lives together and rebuild,” White said. “Her leadership style has always been about inspiring people to dream big and go further into the neighborhoods with development.”

She will tout the executive orders and other changes in policies and initiatives she’s already enacted, the deputy mayor said.

Some of those policies include expanding a nonprofit program into Detroit that gives cash to every new and expectant mother; creating both the Office of Neighborhood and Community Safety and the Human, Homeless, and Family Services Department; implementing a new compliance program for senior citizen housing facilities; and amping up safeguards of home demolition sites, among other measures.

New mayor sets first in Detroit’s 324-year history

The former city councilwoman is the first female mayor, along with the first Black woman mayor, in Detroit’s 324-year history. She succeeded Mike Duggan, who in his three terms and 12 years in office is widely credited with stabilizing the city’s finances after the city entered Chapter 9 municipal bankruptcy in July 2013 and exited it at the end of 2014.

Sheffield was the council president before being elected in November. She won in a landslide, nabbing 77% of the vote over the Rev. Solomon Kinloch. She’s also a fourth-generation Detroiter.

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Detroit, MI

Depleted Detroit Pistons drag West-best Thunder into OT before falling

Published

2 days ago

March 31, 2026

Press Room

Depleted Detroit Pistons drag West-best Thunder into OT before falling

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Detroit Pistons nearly took down the defending champs in their own arena without four starters. An MVP-caliber performance by reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander allowed the Oklahoma City Thunder to escape.

Gilgeous-Alexander scored 47 points, and knocked down 21 of his 25 free throws, to put away the Pistons in overtime, 114-110, on Monday, March 30. Three free throws from Gilgeous-Alexander with 48.3 seconds left in overtime extended the Thunder’s lead to five, 111-106. He then split a trip with 13.3 seconds left, with Ron Holland fouling out, to extend the lead back to four to secure the win for Oklahoma City (after Paul Reed cut it to two with a pair of free throws).

After a hot second half, the Pistons went cold in OT, shooting 3-for-11 in the final five minutes. They were without Ausar Thompson (eight points, seven rebounds and five assists) in the extra period, after he fouled out late in the fourth quarter.

With less than 24 seconds left and a chance to win the game in the fourth quarter, Daniss Jenkins turned the ball over with a bad pass. Gilgeous-Alexander nearly made the Pistons pay, sinking a 3-pointer with four seconds left and the game tied at 101. However, the bucket didn’t count because he pushed off. Jenkins’ 3-pointer at the buzzer missed, leading to overtime.

With the loss, the Pistons (54-21) missed out on a chance to clinch the Central Division, with the Cleveland Cavaliers, eight games back with eight games to play entering Monday, also winning. Still, the Pistons are seven games up with seven to play, with a tiebreaker (division record) yet to be decided. Even with the loss, the Pistons – who’ve locked up a playoff spot and homecourt in the first round – edged closer to clinching the top spot in the East, as the Boston Celtics, who entered four games back of the Pistons, lost to the Atlanta Hawks on Monday. That dropped the Pistons’ “magic number” (any combo of Pistons wins and Celtics losses) to lock up the East down to three.

Next up for the Pistons

It’s a super-short turnaround for the Pistons, who jet back to Detroit to host the Toronto Raptors (42-32) on Tuesday (8 p.m., FanDuel Sports Network Detroit Extra/MMYD-TV 20). Toronto is tied with Atlanta in the fifth and sixth spots in the Eastern Conference.

Detroit Pistons walking wounded

The Pistons were severely shorthanded, with Jalen Duren (right ankle injury management), Tobias Harris (left hip) and Duncan Robinson (right hip) all missing the game, along with the previously ruled-out Cade Cunningham (left lung pneumothorax) and Isaiah Stewart (left calf strain). They leaned on their depth, with two-way big Tolu Smith and 2025 second-round pick Chaz Lanier rounding out coach J.B. Bickerstaff’s rotation.

Several players stepped up, with Reed (21 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks) leading the way. Javonte Green finished with 19 points and knocked down a season-high five 3-pointers. Kevin Huerter (17 points, six assists, six rebounds), Jenkins (15 points, six assists), Marcus Sasser (12 points, four assists) and Caris LeVert (10 points) also scored in double figures.

Gilgeous-Alexander led all players with 47 points.

Second-half rally for the Pistons

With four minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, two big offensive rebounds by Smith allowed the Pistons to take their biggest lead of the night.

The possession ended with a 3-pointer by Jenkins, giving the Pistons a 97-90 lead. But the defending champions battled back, with Gilgeous-Alexander leading the way. He went on a personal 6-0 run, and a corner 3-pointer by Thunder center Jaylin Williams later tied the game at 99 with 1:35 to play.

The Pistons trailed by as many as 15 in the first half but outscored the Thunder in the second half, 58-48. The Pistons made nine of their 17 3-point attempts through the final two quarters and shot 60% overall, while holding the Thunder to 44%. Through the first four periods, they scored 22 points off of 17 Thunder turnovers. The Pistons also owned the offensive glass, grabbing 15 to the Thunder’s six. It allowed them a 16-4 lead in second chance points.

Javonte Green delivers season-best performance

The veteran guard has been an unsung contributor all season. His perimeter defense and 3-point shooting, particularly from the corners, has made him a key glue guy with the second unit. As a starter on Monday, he stepped up and gave one of his best performances in a Pistons uniform.

His five 3-pointers marked a season-high, and all five were timely. His fifth came midway through the fourth period and gave the Pistons the lead during their fourth-quarter push, 90-89. He led an all-around hot night from beyond the arc, and did so while also picking up Gilgeous-Alexander defensively throughout the night.

Defense, outside shooting clicks after first quarter

Trailing by 15 points with under nine minutes left in the second quarter, the Pistons nearly let the game get away. But they responded by locking down defensively and heating up from the arc, which sparked a run and enabled them to take control of the game in the second half.

They held the Thunder to 36.4% shooting (8-for-22) in the second quarter after allowing them to shoot 61.1% (11-for-18) in the first. The Pistons caught fire from the arc in the second half after shooting 30% (6-for-20) in the first half, making four of six attempts in the third period and five of 10 in the fourth.

Watch our podcast, “The Pistons Pulse,” discuss the Cade Cunningham injury fallout, the playoff chase and more:

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