By Blessing 
Lions Eye Potential Trade for Trey Hendrickson
The Detroit Lions have been aggressive in building a championship-caliber roster, using every avenue available to fill key positions. However, one major gap remains—the pass rush.
While the team struck gold with first-round pick Aidan Hutchinson, they struggled to find a consistent running mate on the edge. At last year’s trade deadline, they brought in Za’Darius Smith, who made an impact with 4.0 sacks in his seven games in Detroit. But one NFL analyst believes the Lions could make an even bigger move to solidify their pass rush.
Lions Target a Top-Tier Pass Rusher
The most sought-after edge rushers of the offseason—like Maxx Crosby and Myles Garrett—are no longer available. However, Bryce Lazenby of The Sporting News pointed out that one star defender is still up for grabs: Cincinnati Bengals edge rusher Trey Hendrickson.
Hendrickson, the reigning sack leader with an impressive 17.5 sacks in 2024, has reportedly been given permission to seek a trade. While the Bengals have not publicly committed to trading him or signing him to a new deal, Lazenby identified the Lions as one of three potential suitors.
“The Washington Commanders are a contender who could use another edge-rusher. The Bengals could be more willing to work with the Commanders since they’re an NFC team. The Detroit Lions and Buffalo Bills stand out as other teams that could use the veteran,” Lazenby wrote.
The Lions do have alternatives, including bringing back Smith. The Athletic’s Colton Pouncy suggested the team may be allowing the 32-year-old to explore free agency while keeping the door open for a possible return. Another option is addressing the need in the NFL Draft. CBS Sports writer Jared Dubin speculated that Detroit could use the No. 28 overall pick on Georgia’s Mykel Williams.
“Williams didn’t have elite production at Georgia, but given what we’ve seen from the defensive linemen coming out of the Bulldogs program in recent years, he’s worth betting on,” Dubin wrote. “As it is, he can definitely help with the run defense. He has great size and length for the position, and if allowed to line up outside more often rather than head up on tackles, maybe he could generate more pass-rush productivity.”
Hutchinson’s Return to Bolster the Lions in 2025
Perhaps the biggest addition for Detroit’s defense in 2025 won’t come from a trade or the draft, but from Hutchinson’s return to full health. The rising star missed most of last season with a fractured leg, and his absence was felt as the team struggled to maintain a consistent pass rush. Their defensive woes were exposed in a 45-31 divisional-round playoff loss to Washington.
Hutchinson had held onto hope that he could return if the Lions made it to the Super Bowl, but after their early exit, he’s even more motivated for the upcoming season.
“Onward,” Hutchinson told reporters ahead of the Super Bowl, via the Detroit Free Press. “That’s the message. That’s all we can do. (We had) a great regular season, not-so-great postseason, so we’re going to bounce back and get healthy, most importantly, because with the talent, we’re going to be good.”
With Hutchinson back in the fold and the potential to add a game-changer like Hendrickson, the Lions could be looking at a much-improved defense in 2025—one capable of helping them make a deep postseason run.