Heading into Sunday's game at Ford Field, the Detroit Lions and Tennessee Titans are in two very different places. In terms of the upcoming trade deadline, the Lions are clearly buyers and the Titans have declared themselves as clear-cut sellers after offloading a couple veterans this week. There aren't many players who should be off-limits before Nov. 5.
It also means Sunday's game can be a timely (and fairly rarely well-timed) up-close scouting opportunity for the Lions, such as they might have any interest in Titans' players. And there are some they could have interest in, in a broad sense.
With that possible trade interest in mind, here are three Titans' players the Lions' coaches and front office should pay particular attention to during Sunday's game.
3 Titans players the Lions should be scouting in Week 8
3. OL Daniel Brunskill
Brunskill started 14 games at right guard for the Titans last season, He has played in all six of their games so far this season, but he has essentially only lined up as an extra tight end.
Brunskill has played the most snaps at right guard during his career, but he has started games at all five offensive line positions. That kind of versatility has value, and the Titans aren't inclined to have to use it right now.
The Lions have one of the best offensive lines in the league, but four of their starters are a little older and the depth behind them is not great.
Barring an injury to a starting interior offensive lineman for Tennessee, it stands to take a very deep in-person scouting look to even realize Brunskill is on the field during Sunday's game. It says it all that he makes this list, in terms of how many Titans' players may truly appeal to the Lions on a needs basis, but a versatile veteran backup offensive lineman on a team that's willing to trade people is a person of some interest.
2. EDGE Arden Key
He has just one sack so far this season (in Week 7 against the Buffalo Bills, for what's worth), but Key is Pro Football Focus' 36th-highest graded edge defender entering Week 8 with a top-50 pass rushing grade and 10 pressures. In his first year in Tennessee last year he had six sacks, and the year before that PFF graded him as a top-30 edge defender in the league.
Key is in the second year of a three-year deal. But his contract has no guaranteed money in 2025, and he's got a $1.42 million for this year.
Key would be not be a needle-moving acquisition, but he shouldn't command more than a Day 3 draft pick in a trade and his contract is peanuts. That sounds like the Lions' wheelhouse for an edge rusher trade target, and they can get a close look on Sunday.
1. EDGE Harold Landry
Having spent his entire career with the Titans, and having spent 2018-2023 working under Lions defensive line coach Terrell Williams there, Landry has been easy to tie to the Lions as a potential trade target.
After missing the 2022 season with a torn ACL, Landry had 10.5 sacks last season while playing all 17 games. He has four sacks so far this season, which gives him 12.5 sacks over his last 17 games. Further bolstering his possible fit for the Lions, he can line up on the edge and as an off the ball linebacker.
Landry, 28 years old, is under contract through 2026. A team that traded for him would pick up the prorated portion of his $17.25 million salary for the rest of this year. Then he has matching non-guaranteed salaries of $17.5 million in 2025 and 2026.
Via Williams, the Lions can get insight about Landry that no other team who might have interest in trading for him can. A good performance on Sunday, against arguably the top offensive tackle tandem in the league, would bolster his trade value while giving the Lions a great look at him.
