Lions Encouraged to Trade for Pro Bowl Pass-Rusher to Complement Aidan Hutchinson
If the Detroit Lions had a fully healthy defense heading into the postseason, they might have advanced further than the NFC divisional round. One of their biggest setbacks was the loss of star pass-rusher Aidan Hutchinson, who was leading the league with 7.5 sacks when he fractured his tibia in a Week 6 victory over the Dallas Cowboys, ending his season prematurely.
To compensate for Hutchinson’s absence, the Lions traded for veteran defensive end Za’Darius Smith at the deadline. However, Smith had little impact and was released at the start of the new league year. Given that, Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox has suggested Detroit pursue another Pro Bowl pass-rusher to support Hutchinson in the upcoming season.
Knox specifically pointed to Cincinnati Bengals star Trey Hendrickson as a prime target, noting that the defensive end led the NFL with 83 pressures and 17.5 sacks this past season, according to Pro Football Focus.
“The draft is an option for filling the void—the Bleacher Report Scouting Department paired Detroit with Georgia’s Mykel Williams in its latest mock draft—but the Lions should also consider a trade for Trey Hendrickson,” Knox wrote. “… If Detroit can pull off what other teams haven’t been able to and acquire Hendrickson, pairing him with Hutchinson could give the Lions one of the most dominant pass-rushing duos in the NFL.”
Hendrickson has been frustrated with his contract situation in Cincinnati and even requested a trade earlier this month. While the Bengals granted him permission to explore trade options, teams have hesitated due to Cincinnati’s high asking price.
Though Hendrickson’s availability was widely known, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler recently reported that the Bengals are now more inclined to keep him and negotiate an extension rather than trade him away.
“A deal would require a significant trade package,” Fowler said on SportsCenter. “Teams aren’t willing to make that move and pay Hendrickson right now. So, as much as I’d like to bet on him being dealt, I still think the Bengals and Hendrickson could work out a new contract.”
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