By Sunday 
Lions Miss Out as 49ers Snag Ideal Pass Rusher for Hutchinson Pairing
It’s never fun watching another NFC contender land a player your team should’ve gone after—especially when that player could’ve filled a glaring need. For Lions fans, that sting is all too real this week.
Hutchinson’s Back, But He Still Needs Help
Let’s start with the good news: Aidan Hutchinson is back, healthy, and ready to roll at OTAs. After that brutal leg injury last season, his full return is a huge boost for Detroit’s defense. He’s the face of the pass rush and a tone-setter on the edge.
But here’s the issue—he can’t do it alone.
The Lions had a golden opportunity to pair Hutchinson with a true running mate. Instead, they stood still while the San Francisco 49ers swooped in and made a savvy trade for edge rusher Bryce Huff.
Bryce Huff to the 49ers? Ouch.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Philadelphia Eagles dealt Huff to the 49ers for a mid-round pick. A mid-round pick. That’s a move Detroit could’ve and should’ve made.
The deal stings for two reasons: 1) The Lions missed out on Huff, and 2) he went to an NFC rival they just went toe-to-toe with in the playoffs.
Yes, Huff had a down year in 2024, but the upside was still there. The 26-year-old was a breakout star with the Jets in 2023—racking up 10 sacks, 67 pressures, and an eye-popping 45 QB hurries. Philly gave him a 3-year, $51.1M deal for a reason.
What Went Wrong?
So what happened? Huff underperformed in Philly last season—just 2.5 sacks and limited impact as a rotational piece. He also skipped the start of OTAs, clearly signaling discontent.
Still, teams like the 49ers saw potential. They worked around the $34 million left on his deal by restructuring. That kind of flexibility and forward-thinking is what sets contenders apart.
Detroit? Crickets. It’s unclear if the Lions even picked up the phone.
A Missed Opportunity With Long-Term Implications
The Lions’ defensive front is good—but adding someone like Huff could’ve made it great. He would’ve taken pressure off Hutchinson, opened up blitz schemes, and maybe helped revive his 2023 form with a change of scenery.
There’s also a personal angle here. Huff is reuniting with 49ers DC Robert Salah, the coach who helped mold him with the Jets. That relationship probably played a big part in the trade. But if Detroit had made a real offer? Who knows.
Final Thought
Let’s not pretend the sky is falling. The Lions are still in a good place heading into 2025. But this was a rare chance to grab a high-upside pass rusher for cheap—and they let it slip.
If the defense struggles to generate consistent pressure opposite Hutchinson this season, fans might look back at this missed deal and wonder: What if?