The Detroit Lions entered the 2026 season with a 6-2 record, and many fans hoped general manager Brad Holmes would make a major trade-deadline move to strengthen the roster and improve the team’s chances of winning its first Super Bowl. Several NFC North rivals made significant additions: the Chicago Bears acquired Pro Bowl defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons, while the Minnesota Vikings brought back quarterback Kirk Cousins.
Detroit made a smaller move, acquiring veteran safety Andre Cisco from the New York Jets, but did not make the kind of high-profile addition some fans wanted. Holmes has since explained why the Lions chose not to pursue a bigger deal, saying the team was looking for a genuine upgrade rather than adding a player simply for the sake of making a move.
“We’re very thorough, and what we were looking for is, if we were going to add somebody, we would have had to add somebody that’s going to be an upgrade. Like, elevate the room,” Holmes said. “Not somebody that’s, kind of, you got to spend however much capital, potentially pay money for a player that would just — I don’t even know would be in the rotation.”
Holmes acknowledged that he understands the discussion around Detroit’s roster but said he did not see a significant trade worth making. He pointed to Dorsey’s contributions on the outside and said the team had five players it could rotate through. Holmes also praised head coach Dan Campbell, defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard, and Deshea Townsend for managing that rotation.
“I know what the narrative is about our group, but if you include Dorsey that’s been contributing on the outside, I mean we really got five guys that we’re able to just rotate through,” Holmes said. “I think it’s an incredible job by Dan and Shepp and Deshea, how they’re rotating those guys in. It’s been working. But yeah, we checked in on all of them and it just — there’s really nothing there.”
## Why the Lions Acquired Andre Cisco
Holmes said Cisco gives Detroit added flexibility at safety. He described the former Jet as a versatile free safety with good coverage skills, intelligence, instinct, athleticism, and range. Holmes said the Lions had been familiar with Cisco since he entered the NFL draft out of Syracuse.
Although some may view Cisco as a depth option, Holmes noted that he has been a regular starter for most of his career. Cisco started several games as a rookie, started for the Jets last season, and made four starts in 2026. Holmes said he thought Cisco played well in those appearances and that Detroit values safeties with the abilities Cisco brings.
