A well-known NFL insider recently weighed in on whether the Detroit Lions might pull off a blockbuster trade for a veteran edge rusher with multiple Pro Bowl appearances.
At the start of free agency, the Lions made a splash by acquiring D.J. Reed to take over for Carlton Davis. However, their roster additions since then have been minimal, with linebacker Grant Stuard and defensive tackle Roy Lopez being the only new faces brought in.
One area the team has yet to address is finding a strong pass-rusher to complement Aidan Hutchinson. As things stand, Marcus Davenport would be slotted as the starter opposite Hutchinson, which might not be an ideal scenario for a team aiming to compete at a high level. However, there is still a possibility that Detroit makes a move to bring in a more established player for the role.
In a recent mailbag feature for Sports Illustrated, NFL analyst Albert Breer shared his thoughts on the situation, stating that a trade for Cincinnati Bengals pass-rusher Trey Hendrickson remains on the table.
“I think it’s possible,” Breer said. “The Bengals are looking for at least a second-round pick, which is a steep price, especially when factoring in the financial commitment of over $30 million per year for a 31-year-old player. However, since the Lions are picking late in the second round, it might be easier for them to part with the pick. The bigger concern is how this could impact future negotiations with Aidan Hutchinson.”
Lions general manager Brad Holmes seemed to downplay the possibility of such a trade during the NFL Combine, but the team’s stance could shift now that their initial free agency moves are out of the way.
At this point, Detroit’s most significant remaining roster needs are an edge rusher and a right guard, with most other key positions locked in through at least 2026. This level of roster stability could make the Lions more willing to part with their second-round pick in exchange for Hendrickson—if they can also manage the financial aspect of the deal.
A potential obstacle is that Detroit already has upcoming contract negotiations with Hutchinson and Kerby Joseph, making it challenging to fit Hendrickson’s salary into their budget. Additionally, other teams have expressed interest in trading for Hendrickson and are reportedly open to offering him an extension, though they view Cincinnati’s asking price as too high.
If Detroit can find a way to balance the financials and Cincinnati lowers its trade demands, parting with a second-round pick to secure a key defensive piece for a Super Bowl push could be a logical move. The question now is whether the Lions see it the same way before another team strikes a deal with the Bengals.
