Look, the Lions are going to get an edge rusher one way or another. There have been way too much conversation about helping Aidan Hutchinson who is, at this point, arguably the on-field face of their franchise next season and beyond for it not to happen. Whether it’s through some sort of convulted, Moneyball-esque signing this summer, or a big swing in next month’s draft, it seems like only a matter of time before Brad Holmes takes a big swing.
RELATED: NFL analyst floats major Lions first round trade for edge rusher during 2025 NFL Draft
But if he’s still looking for suggestions, I’d probably point him towards Bleacher Report, who pored over all the stats, watched all the tape, and then figured out a wildly clever idea: the Lions should simply trade for the best edge rusher in football! In a new listicle titled, ‘1 Trade Each NFL Contender Should Consider to Fill Biggest Weakness,’ B/R went out on a limb and paired the Lions with Bengals pass rusher Trey Hendrickson, who’s currently in a bit of a contract stalemate with Cincinnati and may, if you believe the reports, want out. Here’s their rationale, which is probably 200 words longer than it really needs to be (very relatable tbh).
B/R (and every Lions fan on the planet) wants Detroit to trade for Trey Hendrickson
“Hendrickson, who led the NFL in sacks last season, has been on the sideline as the Cincinnati Bengals worked on extensions for Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase. The Bengals aren’t reportedly eager to trade the 30-year-old, and could reach an agreement to retain him … The Lions should see if they can pull off what other teams, to this point, have been unable to do and acquire Hendrickson. Pairing him with Hutchinson would give Detroit arguably the most disruptive pass-rushing tandem in the NFL … A rookie might be equally effective and would certainly be more budget-friendly. However, Hendrickson is a proven playmaker, and the Lions are still equipped with $35.4 million in cap space.”
Just trade for (arguably) the best defensive player in football! I don’t know why Holmes and the rest of Detroit’s front office hasn’t thought of that yet. In B/R’s earnest defense, it is a good idea. It’s just not a particularly new or interesting one. But that’s ok! They don’t all have to be thought-provoking; sometimes the best answer is right there under your nose. So remember: if the Lions end up trading for Hendrickson, you heard it at B/R – or, also, everywhere else on the internet – first.
Lions pair Aidan Hutchinson with All-Pro in latest trade idea from NFL analyst
