Lions Predicted to Make Bold Trade for Star Pass Rusher
Heading into the 2025 NFL season, the Detroit Lions are seen as serious contenders. They currently hold the best odds to win the NFC North (+135) and are tied for the fifth-best odds to win the Super Bowl. To solidify their championship hopes, one area that could use a boost is their defense.
In 2024, the Lions ranked 20th in total yards allowed per game (342.4), while their scoring defense was stronger, giving up just 20.1 points per game, good for seventh in the league. According to Kyle Soppe from Pro Football & Sports Network, a potential trade could give the Lions’ defense a significant upgrade.
Soppe suggests that Detroit could acquire standout edge rusher Trey Hendrickson from the Cincinnati Bengals, along with the 81st overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. In return, the Lions would send Cincinnati the 28th, 102nd, and 228th picks. “Hendrickson was a dominant force last season, earning All-Pro honors and finishing second in Defensive Player of the Year voting,” Soppe noted. “Top-tier pass rushers are hard to come by, and Hendrickson could elevate Detroit’s defense immediately.”
Hendrickson, a four-time Pro Bowler, had a career-best season in 2024. He played all 17 games and recorded 46 total tackles, 17.5 sacks, 19 tackles for loss, and 54 quarterback pressures. His presence would enhance a Detroit pass rush that had mixed results last season—finishing 23rd in sacks (37), but ranking second in QB hurries (73) and fourth in total pressures (179).
Teaming up Hendrickson with Aidan Hutchinson—already considered among the league’s elite young pass rushers—could give Detroit one of the top defensive end duos in the NFL.
That said, Hendrickson has only one year remaining on his current contract, so the Lions would likely need to negotiate an extension to make the move worthwhile long-term.
