ESPN: Lions Are Urged to Trade Versatile Veteran for a “Sneaky” Return on the Trade Market.

Over the previous three seasons, veteran running back Craig Reynolds has significantly improved the Detroit Lions offense. However, he might be most useful as a trade candidate in preseason.

When Ryan Fowler of Bleacher Report labeled the seasoned running back the Lions’ top trade candidate on August 14, 2024 NFL preseason, he was essentially making that suggestion.

Reynolds’ role appears to be small this fall, according to Fowler, with rookie fourth-round pick Sione Vaki already competing for carries and David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs firmly established as the starters.

Reynolds’ move might allow younger players at other positions to take up roster spots. Given that teams are constantly searching for adaptable depth players at the running back position, he might possibly provide a surprising amount of value.

Reynolds did not start any games in the 2023 campaign, but in October of last year, with David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs both down by injuries, he was a crucial depth player.

Over the course of his five-year NFL career, Reynolds has run for 515 yards at an average of 4.3 yards per carry.

Could RB Craig Reynolds be traded by the Lions?
Reynolds joined the Lions in 2021, the same year Dan Campbell made his debut in Detroit. Among the team’s running backs, he has the longest contract.

Reynolds joined the Washington Redskins as an undrafted free agent to start his career. He had very little offensive action as a rookie and only three offensive snaps in 2020 while playing for the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Nonetheless, Reynolds has played at least 116 offensive snaps in each of his three seasons with the Lions. He caught five catches for 47 yards and ran for 179 yards and one touchdown in 2023.

Reynolds has been an essential member of special teams as well. He played a career-high 211 special teams snaps in the previous campaign.

However, the Lions selected Sione Vaki of Utah in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL draft. Vaki is a potential to play special teams and running back in Detroit, having played both safety and running back in college.

In Week 1 of the preseason, Vaki impressed in a limited amount of time spent out of the backfield. With just four carries, he gained 29 yards in the air, surpassing all Lions players other than quarterback Hendon Hooker in yardage. Vaki ran in the game for 15 yards and 9 yards.

Additionally, he recovered a fumble while attempting to make a tackle following an offensive interception.

Reynolds has served the Lions well as a veteran in a variety of capacities, but Vaki may be even more versatile, making Reynolds unnecessary.

Lions Running Back Depth for the 2024 Season
A hamstring injury occurred during practice for Gibbs after the first week of the preseason. Campbell did, however, imply that the injury is not significant during an August 14 appearance on 97.1 The Ticket.

If Gibbs and Montgomery stay healthy, the Lions will have a strong running back group. Detroit’s 90-man roster also includes veteran running backs Jermar Jefferson, Zonovan Knight, and Jake Funk in addition to Reynolds and Vaki.

By season’s conclusion in 2023, all three of those running backs were still with the Lions. Prior to ending the season on injured reserve, Jefferson and Knight were members of the team’s practice squad.

Last year, Knight was the only Lion to play in a game. However, Funk donned the Indianapolis Colts uniform for four games.

This season, Gibbs and Montgomery will be the Lions’ primary backs on the field. Therefore, having an RB3 who can play special teams and at safety may be more important than Reynolds’ seasoned background.

That may be particularly the case if the Lions have seasoned running backs with experience on their practice squad at their disposal.

Even though Reynolds might make more money than anticipated in a trade, the Lions are probably not going to consider him as a trade candidate if injuries to either of the team’s top two running backs are a concern.