The Detroit Lions have a star in edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson, but have struggled to find a competent counterpart who can pressure quarterbacks off the opposite edge.
They may have a chance to add that missing piece at the upcoming trade deadline, with several analysts predicting the team could take a run at Miami Dolphins edge rusher Jaelan Phillips. The Dolphins are watching their season spiral and could be just a few weeks away from being essentially eliminated from playoff contention, leading many to peg them as sellers at the trade deadline.
The Lions could take advantage, taking aim at Phillips to round out their edge rushing group.
Lions Could Add ‘Very Effective’ Defensive End
Vinnie Iyer of The Sporting News identified top trade candidates for all 32 NFL teams, noting that the Lions may have their eyes on Cincinnati Bengals star Trey Hendrickson but would find Phillips a more attainable player.
“With Hendrickson unlikely to happen and the Lions may be being a bit reserved in giving the Bengals that great desired haul, they can take a shot on another very effective would-be complement to Defensive Player of the Year candidate Aidan Hutchinson,” Iyer wrote.
Phillips has endured some injury issues over the last two years, appearing in just 12 total games between the 2023 and 2024 seasons. But he has proven to be a productive pass rusher when healthy, averaging more than seven sacks in each of his first three seasons in the NFL.
Reporter Mike Payton of AtoZ Sports predicted the Lions could land Phillips with a Day 3 draft pick.
“The Lions will have to give a high Day 3 pick to get it done, but what they get back is a player who has racked up 22 pressures this season and is just begging to take advantage of the one-on-one opportunities that Aidan Hutchinson and Alim McNeill provide,” Payton wrote. “In my opinion, this is the deal the Lions should do at the deadline because thereâs a chance for a future, it doesnât cost a first-round pick, and you donât have to break the bank.”
Payton noted that Phillips is the “best edge rusher” on the trade market, which could make competition fierce to land him.
Lions Could Look at Other Targets
Iyer noted that the Lions could look at another potential trade target on the Dolphins, edge rusher Bradley Chubb.
Other potential targets could be slipping out of their grasp. New York Jets edge rusher Jermaine Johnson, seen as a top trade candidate, said this week that he wants ot stay with the team and expressed that on social media.
“I’m definitely wanted here, and I want to stay here,” Johnson told ESPN. “That’s been understood. Hence the tweet.”
The Lions have used the trade deadline to add help in their edge rushing group before. They made something of an emergency addition last year, acquiring Za’Darius Smith to lead the position group after Hutchinson suffered a season-ending injury in October.
The Lions have put together a Super Bowl-caliber roster and could take an aggressive approach this season, especially after the pass rush has faltered in last season’s early exit from the playoffs.
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