The Detroit Lions could significantly benefit from adding another elite pass-rusher, potentially giving them the edge they need in their pursuit of a Lombardi Trophy.
It’s well-known that the EDGE position is one of the most valuable in football, which makes acquiring one through free agency or trade quite costly. Lions general manager Brad Holmes has openly discussed the challenges the team faced when trying to secure a top pass-rusher, eventually landing Za’Darius Smith at the trade deadline last year.
One of the top candidates available is Trey Hendrickson from the Cincinnati Bengals, who recently requested a trade as he enters the final year of his contract. After posting 17 sacks in consecutive seasons, Hendrickson is poised for a significant extension, especially following Myles Garrett’s deal worth $40 million annually, which has set the market for EDGE players.
With the Bengals already committing large extensions to Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase this offseason, it’s unclear if they can afford to retain Hendrickson for the long-term. This could present an opportunity for a team like the Lions to pursue him.
In a recent article discussing potential trades for each team’s first-round pick, ESPN’s Bill Barnwell suggested a trade where the Lions would acquire Hendrickson. According to Barnwell, the Lions would send their 28th overall pick and a fourth-round pick to the Bengals in exchange for Hendrickson and Cincinnati’s second-round pick, the 49th overall.
“The time for action is now. Outside of a hole at right guard, the Lions’ only glaring weakness is at edge rusher across from Aidan Hutchinson,” Barnwell wrote. “Marcus Davenport is back, but he was limited to six games between 2023 and 2024 because of injuries.
Hutchinson is recovering from a fractured leg, so it will be asking a lot of him to immediately return to his premier form in 2025. The Lions also have Hutchinson, Jahmyr Gibbs, and Brian Branch on rookie deals, giving them a window to go after an expensive addition.”
At first glance, this trade would be a major win for the Lions. They would add one of the league’s most productive pass-rushers to pair with Hutchinson, potentially giving them one of the top pass-rushing duos in the NFL.
Along with Hendrickson, the Lions would also acquire a second-round pick, which could allow them to add a valuable player in a draft with depth in several key positions.
Moreover, Hendrickson would likely have a more immediate impact than any player the Lions could draft with the 28th overall pick.
Parting with a first-round pick would be tough for a team like the Lions, who have focused on drafting and developing their own talent. However, by trading this year’s first-round pick, the Lions would preserve their future capital, with the fourth-round pick serving as a reasonable addition to secure a player like Hendrickson.
Given the Lions’ emphasis on drafting and developing talent, it’s hard to envision them finalizing a deal for Hendrickson. With Hutchinson also due for an extension, the Lions might be hesitant to allocate valuable cap space to a trade acquisition.
Nevertheless, if the terms proposed by Barnwell are enough to land Hendrickson, then general manager Brad Holmes should seriously consider pulling the trigger.