The Detroit Lions didn’t make many splashy moves during the 2025 offseason or ahead of the early-November trade deadline, but the franchise is primed for a big swing come next March.
Making trades is always a more precarious way to add blockbuster talent because it requires surrendering assets, typically in one or more upcoming drafts, to land a player who is either on an expensive contract already or looking for one in the coming offseason. The Lions were a solid fit for Cincinnati Bengals edge-rusher Trey Hendrickson before this year’s trade deadline, but he may offer considerably better value come next spring.
Hendrickson will turn 31 years old next month and has missed the past two games with a sports hernia. He was a viable trade candidate for the Lions ahead of that injury, though his health issue may have thrown any potential deal off a viable trajectory.
“My dream of an all-in move for Trey Hendrickson and Jaelan Phillips probably died when the Bengals star went down with a hip injury in Sunday’s loss to the Jets,” ESPN’s Bill Barnwell wrote October 30 about his suggestion that the Lions go all-in on a pass-rusher.
However, Hendrickson should be healthy ahead of next year, and ESPN rated the defensive end as the top free agent in the 2026 class. Beyond that, he remains an excellent fit across from Aidan Hutchinson in Detroit.
“Hendrickson is a relentless defender off the edge with a deep toolbox of counters and a knack for making plays late in the down,” ESPN’s Matt Bowen wrote November 12. “Hendrickson has four sacks this season, and his 17.5 sacks and 65 pressures in 2024 were both league highs. He would be an immediate upgrade for just about any team.”
Lions May Be Able to Procure Trey Hendrickson at Value Following Mid-Season Injury
GettyCincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson.
Hendrickson won’t be a cheap option for the Lions, though he could be exactly what the team needs, which would make him worth the money.
“Rarely does an elite pass rusher hit free agency. The Bengals have the option to franchise-tag Hendrickson at around $36 million,” Jeremy Fowler of ESPN wrote. “That’s steep for a team in transition but could be a way to facilitate a sign-and-trade. Seven pass-rushers make at least $34 million per year, and Hendrickson could become the next one.”
Spotrac projects Hendrickson’s market value at $23 million annually over a new two-year deal, mostly because of his recent injury issues.
The Bengals would get great value for Hendrickson in the $30 million annual range over a three-year contract, considering that the top edge-rushers in the league make in the mid-$40 million range on longer deals with a significant amount of guaranteed money that Hendrickson may not be able to command.
Unlikely Sources Have Provided Lions With Reliable QB Pressure This Season
GettyDefensive end Al-Quadin Muhammad of the Detroit Lions.
The Lions haven’t suffered for quarterback pressures this season, mainly because of unexpected production from long-time reserve players like Al-Quadin Muhammad and high numbers of sacks via blitz packages.
But the team has some concerns at the cornerback position and will likely regress to the mean when it comes to sacks from the linebacker spots. Detroit has 31 sacks on the season, which ranks sixth in the NFL, though 9.5 of those sacks have come from the linebacker position in a 4-3 base defense that more typically relies on defensive ends for pocket disruption.
The Lions have only $5.9 million in projected salary cap space for 2026 as of mid-November, but should Detroit clear room for additions in the offseason, the edge-rusher spot will likely be a priority.
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