By Moses Joshua 
ESPN’s bold trade scenario imagines Detroit going “all-in” to form one of the NFL’s scariest pass-rushing duos.
An Aggressive Deadline Vision for Detroit
The Detroit Lions have already made their presence known as one of the NFC’s most complete teams — but according to a bold new trade proposal, they might just be one move (or two) away from taking the next step toward dominance.
In a recent feature highlighting deals that “make sense” ahead of the trade deadline, ESPN’s Bill Barnwell outlined an aggressive scenario in which the Lions would double down on their defensive front — acquiring not one, but two star edge rushers in Trey Hendrickson from the Cincinnati Bengals and Jaelan Phillips from the Miami Dolphins.
For a team that has already built a gritty, balanced identity under Dan Campbell, the move would represent a full commitment to contending right now.
Barnwell’s Vision: A Two-Punch Boost for Hutchinson and the Defense
Barnwell’s first proposal sends a second-round pick to Cincinnati in exchange for Hendrickson and a fourth-round selection, calling it Detroit’s potential “all-in move.”
“The Lions have one superstar up front in Aidan Hutchinson, but they’ve never really landed that second one,” Barnwell wrote. “Furthermore, the Lions are dealing with a secondary that’s already battered by injuries. Free agent addition D.J. Reed (hamstring) is on injured reserve, while Terrion Arnold narrowly avoided a multi-month shoulder injury.”
That logic checks out. Detroit’s front four has been one of the most productive in football, but the lack of consistent pressure opposite Hutchinson has shown up in critical moments. Hendrickson, who has 17.5 sacks in each of the last two seasons, could provide exactly the kind of veteran stability and explosiveness the Lions’ defense has lacked on the edge.
And Barnwell didn’t stop there. His second proposed deal sends a fourth-round pick to Miami in exchange for Phillips and a seventh-rounder, doubling the Lions’ investment in raw pass-rushing power.
“I’m arguing that the Lions should go all-in,” Barnwell continued. “This team experienced what it was like to lose Hutchinson and virtually every one of its other ambulatory pass rushers last season. … No team has ever made it into January and complained that it had too many pass rushers.”
Why Phillips Is the Wild Card Detroit Could Gamble On
Phillips might be the riskier addition of the two, but his ceiling is just as intriguing. Despite battling both ACL and Achilles injuries in his young career, he has flashed elite traits when healthy.
“His 14.5% pressure rate and 6.8% quick pressure rate, both per Next Gen Stats, are well above league average for edge rushers with 100 or more snaps this season,” Barnwell wrote. “Phillips’ average pressure comes after just 2.6 seconds, the seventh-fastest rate among that cohort.”
If Detroit were to land both Hendrickson and Phillips, it would give the team a rotation that could overwhelm even the most composed quarterbacks — a nightmare scenario for opposing offenses come playoff time.
The Financial Fit — and the Long Game
With over $25 million in available cap space, the Lions are one of the few legitimate contenders capable of taking on both salaries. And they wouldn’t have to commit long-term to both players.
Hendrickson, per Spotrac, carries a projected market value of nearly $35 million annually on a new four-year deal — a hefty price tag but one that aligns with his elite production. Phillips, meanwhile, could be treated as a shorter-term rental while he reestablishes his health and value.
If the Lions can pull off even one of these moves, it would mark a defining moment for general manager Brad Holmes, signaling that Detroit’s Super Bowl window is officially open.
The Bottom Line: Win Now, Win Later
The Lions have the momentum, the cap flexibility, and the leadership to make a daring move before the deadline. Pairing Aidan Hutchinson with Trey Hendrickson and Jaelan Phillips could transform Detroit’s defense from fearsome to flat-out frightening — a unit capable of wrecking games deep into January.
Barnwell’s vision might be ambitious, but it captures one undeniable truth: no team ever regretted having too many pass rushers when the stakes are highest.