By Moses Joshua 
With the trade window closing fast, Detroit could swing big to fix its defensive imbalance — and one All-Pro name is firmly on their radar.
A Missing Piece in a Championship-Caliber Puzzle
The Detroit Lions have established themselves as one of the NFC’s premier teams over the past two seasons — but even great teams have cracks. For Detroit, that weakness is glaring: a lack of consistent pressure opposite Aidan Hutchinson.
According to Brad Gagnon of Bleacher Report, the Lions could soon make an aggressive push to address that issue by acquiring Trey Hendrickson from the Cincinnati Bengals. In his prediction published Wednesday, October 29, Gagnon suggested that Detroit could send a second-round pick to Cincinnati in exchange for the veteran edge rusher.
“The Bengals haven’t been able to work out a long-term deal with Hendrickson for some time, and they could decide to cut bait now,” Gagnon wrote. “Meanwhile, the Lions have been looking for another pass-rushing option to complement Aidan Hutchinson for about the same length of time. Hendrickson costs the Lions a Day 2 pick, but plays a significant role [in] the team’s first-ever Super Bowl run.”
Hendrickson Still Dominant Despite Dip in Sacks
Hendrickson’s résumé speaks for itself. A two-time Pro Bowler, the 30-year-old has remained one of the league’s most reliable edge threats. He’s coming off back-to-back seasons with 17.5 sacks, and while his totals have dipped slightly in 2025, his efficiency remains elite.
Through seven games this year, the Bengals pass rusher has tallied four sacks, eight quarterback hits, and three tackles for loss, while also registering 23 pressures and 11 stops, according to Pro Football Focus. His 90.0 pass-rush grade ranks him eighth among 119 qualified defenders, reinforcing that his impact goes well beyond the box score.
Financially, however, Hendrickson isn’t a cheap target. He’s earning $29 million this season, with $8 million owed for the remainder of the year should Detroit trade for him after Cincinnati’s upcoming game against the Bears. Spotrac projects his market value near $134 million over four years, or roughly $33.5 million annually — a figure that would demand a long-term commitment from any acquiring team.
Detroit’s Big-Money Dilemma
There’s just one problem: Detroit already has a superstar under contract at the same position. Earlier this week, the Lions finalized a massive $180 million, four-year extension with Hutchinson — a deal averaging $45 million per year, making him the second-highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history.
That record-setting investment could complicate any move for Hendrickson. Committing another nine-figure deal to a 31-year-old pass rusher would stretch the team’s salary structure to its limits. Yet, context matters — and the Lions are clearly in win-now mode.
Detroit has won the NFC North two years running and entered last year’s postseason as the No. 1 seed in the NFC. They’ve reached the conference championship but have yet to take that final step under Dan Campbell.
That’s why Gagnon believes the Lions might be ready to push all their chips in before the November 4 trade deadline. “This is a hunch because I think the Lions have to realize there’s a clear path to their first-ever Super Bowl, and they’re going to feel immense pressure to solidify things defensively before the home stretch begins,” Gagnon wrote.
All-In on the Super Bowl Window
Even if Hendrickson isn’t the final choice, the message is clear — Detroit wants reinforcements. Gagnon hinted that the Lions could also target Jermaine Johnson or Riq Woolen, depending on trade feasibility.
Campbell’s squad already has the offensive firepower and a battle-tested core. What they need now is a closer — a defensive presence who can tilt games in January.
If the front office believes Hendrickson is that missing piece, don’t be surprised if Detroit makes one of the boldest moves of the season.