After ending their 2024 regular-season run with a 15-2 record and in first place in the NFC North, the Detroit Lions fell to the Washington Commanders in the first round of the postseason and had several coaches poached by other teams to start the offseason.
While Detroit had one of their best seasons since the merger, they were unable to reach their ultimate goal, partially due to injuries and performance on defense. In fact, they brought down opposing quarterbacks on just 5.46% of their dropbacks, which was the third-lowest rate in the NFL last year.
The Lions lost some key pieces from their defensive front this offseason, including Za'Darius Smith, whom they cut around the start of the new league year. They haven't done much in response, adding just Roy Lopez and Grant Stuard to the mix.
If head coach Dan Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes want to bring Detroit their first Super Bowl, they may need to add a game-wrecker, and it just so happens that there's one available on the trade block. And, interestingly, Bleacher Report's Kristopher Knox predicted that the Lions will send a 2025 second-round pick (No. 60 overall) and a 2026 third-round pick to the Cincinnati Bengals for defensive end Trey Hendrickson during the upcoming NFL draft.
Hendrickson, 30, played collegiately at Florida Atlantic from 2013-16, earning C-USA Defensive Player of the Year honors in his final season with the Owls before the New Orleans Saints took him in the third round (No. 103 overall) of the 2017 NFL draft.
In four seasons with New Orleans, Hendrickson recorded 65 tackles (18 for a loss), 43 quarterback hits, 20 sacks, three passes defensed and three forced fumbles.
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After a successful final season with the Saints, Hendrickson signed a four-year, $60 million deal with the Bengals and took his play to the next level. Over the last four years, he made four Pro Bowls and earned All-Pro honors once. He also played in 65 games, recording 155 tackles (53 for a loss), 112 quarterback hits, 57 sacks, 12 passes defensed and 11 forced fumbles.
Hendrickson is set to enter the final year of his contract and is looking for a new deal. After paying Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins this offseason, it's unlikely that an extension will come from Cincinnati, so the team has given the star edge rusher permission to seek a trade.
Detroit may be willing to part with two Day 2 picks to get the player with the third-most sacks in the league (behind only T.J. Watt and Myles Garrett) since 2020. They could pair Hendrickson with Aidan Hutchinson, allow those two to wreak havoc on opposing passing attacks and put themselves in a better position to win in 2025.
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