For a significant portion of the 2024 NFL season, it appeared that this might be the year the Detroit Lions finally succeeded in reaching their inaugural Super Bowl in the history of the franchise.
Regrettably, they did not come close to achieving that target.
Currently, they are left with plenty of available cap space and several defensive problems to address in the 2025 offseason.
There is some expectation that these adjustments might involve acquiring a prominent player to enhance a defense that already features notable talent.
A fresh trade proposal presented a concept for acquiring precisely the kind of star player that would generate enthusiasm among fans for the team’s future next season.
In their offseason trade guide for 2025, the NFL Scouting Department at Bleacher Report suggested a major trade involving the Lions and the Las Vegas Raiders.
The proposed trade would have the Lions surrender their first-round selections in 2025 and 2026, along with QB Hendon Hooker, in return for Raiders edge rusher Maxx Crosby and the Raiders’ fifth-round choice in this year’s draft.
If you’re wishing for the Lions to make a significant change this offseason to overhaul their defense, I believe you couldn’t expect anything better than this.
Crosby is returning from a disappointing season by his measures, recording only seven and a half sacks over 12 games. Nonetheless, he succeeded in accumulating 35 pressures, and his statistics from the past two years rank among the finest in the league.
In 2022, he recorded 12.5 sacks and 47 pressures, securing sixth place in the voting for Defensive Player of the Year. In 2023, those figures rose to 14.5 sacks and 50 pressures, and he ended up in fourth place in the DPOY voting.
Crosby earned All-Pro honors for the second time in his career in 2023.
Teaming him with Aidan Hutchinson would provide the Lions with the most fearsome pass rush in the NFL and might mask some of their coverage problems.
The agreement would enable them to retain significant draft assets for 2025 to address additional requirements on their roster.
The Lions find themselves at a stage where they ought to be prepared to fully commit to winning a Super Bowl immediately if the right player emerges. Crosby is the right player, and if they can acquire him at this price, they should go ahead with the deal.