By Blessing 
The Detroit Lions head into the offseason with one mission clear as day: get some real help for star edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson.
Hutchinson has proven himself to be a rising force on defense, but the team’s lack of depth at the position became painfully obvious after his season was cut short due to a leg fracture in October. Once he went down, Detroit’s pass rush practically vanished—no other defender on the roster managed to notch more than 4.0 sacks for the remainder of the season.
Now, with a crucial offseason ahead, one analyst believes the Lions could make a savvy move to bolster their defensive line by targeting a player in need of a fresh start.
Trade Talk: Lions & Eagles Make a Deal?
Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton recently laid out a handful of possible trade scenarios around the league, and one idea had the Lions working out a deal with the Philadelphia Eagles. Moton suggested Detroit could trade for edge rusher Bryce Huff, sending a 2025 fourth-round and seventh-round pick to Philly in return.
It’s a potential low-risk, high-reward move for Detroit. After all, Huff signed a three-year, $51 million deal last offseason, but things didn’t quite go as planned in his first year with the Eagles.
“Because of injuries, the 26-year-old missed five games. Even when healthy, he made a minimal impact, registering 13 tackles, three for loss, 2.5 sacks and a forced fumble,” Moton explained. “Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio used him sparingly. Huff played over 47 percent of the snaps in only three of his 12 appearances, and he didn’t suit up for Super Bowl LIX.”
Given Huff’s quiet season, Moton thinks the Eagles might be open to moving on and cutting their losses, especially if the Lions come calling with a reasonable offer. And from Detroit’s perspective, there’s plenty of reason to be interested.
“The Lions don’t have a reliable edge-rusher other than Aidan Hutchinson,” Moton wrote. “They haven’t re-signed Za’Darius Smith, and 2022 second-rounder Josh Paschal hasn’t panned out. Marcus Davenport re-signed with the team, but he’s played in just six games over the last two years because of injuries.”
Simply put, Huff could fill an immediate need for the Lions. With Hutchinson commanding attention on one side, Huff could thrive in a starting role opposite him—something that wasn’t really an option in Philadelphia’s crowded rotation.
Detroit’s Other Pass-Rush Options
Of course, trading for Huff isn’t the only card the Lions could play. The team might also address its pass rush via the draft.
Josh Edwards of CBS Sports recently floated the idea of Detroit using its No. 28 overall pick to select Shemar Stewart, a physically gifted edge rusher out of Texas A&M. While Stewart hasn’t consistently translated his athleticism into production, his upside remains undeniable.
“Shemar Stewart has incredible athletic potential for a human being of his size, but the production has just not been there to this point in his career,” Edwards noted. “He goes to Detroit where he does not have to be the team’s most productive pass rusher immediately since it already has Aidan Hutchinson.”
In that scenario, the Lions could groom Stewart into a future starter without rushing his development, thanks to the presence of Hutchinson as the primary threat on the edge.
A Critical Offseason Ahead
Regardless of whether Detroit chooses to trade for a proven talent like Huff or invest in a high-upside rookie like Stewart, one thing is certain: the Lions can’t afford to go into the 2025 season with the same thin depth chart at edge rusher.
Hutchinson’s impact is undeniable, but his injury showed just how fragile the team’s defensive front really is. Adding another capable rusher—whether via trade, draft, or free agency—will be essential if the Lions want to take the next step and contend deep into the playoffs.
After a promising season that ended with more questions than answers on defense, this offseason could be the turning point Detroit needs to make a serious run.