By Blessing 
Detroit Lions Predicted to Make Bold Move for $21 Million Star Pass Rusher
Dan Campbell and the Detroit Lions are charging into the 2025 NFL season with high expectations. After finishing as the top team in the regular season last year, many see them as legitimate title contenders. But despite their dominance, Detroit’s playoff run ended abruptly — they were knocked out early by the Washington Commanders. That bitter exit left them with something to prove this year.
As training camp approaches, whispers around the league suggest Detroit may not be done making roster moves — especially on defense. The team already boasts talent, but some believe they could still make a splash to tighten things up before the season begins.
Last year’s defense took a major hit when star edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson suffered a broken leg. The Lions tried to bolster the line midseason by bringing in Za’Darius Smith. However, Smith was released early this offseason and has yet to be brought back.
Now, a new trade idea is heating up — and it’s a big one.
NFL analyst Moe Moton from Bleacher Report has floated the possibility of a major deal between the Lions and the Cincinnati Bengals. The centerpiece of that deal? Pro Bowl pass rusher Trey Hendrickson.
Moton laid out his reasoning:
“The Bengals may not feel comfortable paying a 30-year-old edge-rusher entering his age-31 season that amount of money on a multiyear deal. At the right price, they would likely entertain trade proposals,” he explained.
He went on to say:
> “The Detroit Lions should offer a 2026 second-rounder and a 2026 fifth-rounder to go all-in on an attempt to make a deep playoff run after an early exit last season.”
Hendrickson’s stats back up the hype. Over the past two seasons, he’s posted back-to-back 17.5 sack campaigns. In 2024 alone, he added 46 tackles, two forced fumbles, and six pass deflections across 17 games. Pairing him with Hutchinson — once healthy — would give Detroit one of the fiercest pass-rushing duos in the league.
Financially, it wouldn’t be a cheap move. Hendrickson is due for a new contract, and any team trading for him would likely need to pay up. But if the Lions can pull this off with a second- and fifth-round pick, it may be a move too good to pass up.
Whether or not the deal materializes, the mere possibility has fans buzzing. And for a Lions team hungry to finally break through in the postseason, adding a proven force like Hendrickson might be just the spark they need.