The concept emerged as last year’s trade deadline neared, but following his trade request at the start of Super Bowl week, it intensified similarly. The Detroit Lions require a competent edge rusher to complement Aidan Hutchinson, while Myles Garrett seeks to leave Cleveland since he and the Browns’ organization are evidently not in sync regarding the future.
Although it would be wise for Lions general manager Brad Holmes to engage in trade talks regarding Garrett, and a deal might generally seem more acceptable than the pessimistic views on it, it remains highly improbable that the Lions will part with what is necessary to acquire Garrett. The Browns will need to change their position on not trading him (it’s reasonable to think they might eventually do so).
Let’s set aside the notion that the Lions might trade for Garrett and explore some more plausible options in the trade market.
5 more realistic than Myles Garrett edge rusher trade targets for the Detroit Lions
5. Bradley Chubb, Miami Dolphins
Chubb did not participate in the entire 2024 season due to a severe right knee injury sustained late in the 2023 season (torn ACL, meniscus, and patellar tendon). The Dolphins, holding onto a slim chance for the playoffs as his 21-day activation period came to an end, may have influenced their decision to abandon hopes of his late return, but head coach Mike McDaniel refuted that notion.
Chubb experienced the most successful season of his career with Miami in 2023, achieving 11 sacks, 73 total tackles, 11 tackles for loss, six forced fumbles, and 70 quarterback pressures; he also posted solid statistics in 2022 while playing for both the Denver Broncos and the Dolphins following a trade.
In addition to having recently missed an entire season, Chubb has three years remaining on his contract. However, the only guaranteed salary remaining for him this year is $10 million, which is assured solely in case of injury (per Spotrac). The Dolphins have indicated they anticipate his return, and trading or cutting him prior to June 1 would result in significant dead money and minimal cap space benefits.
Overall, the Dolphins might seek to create space for new possibilities in their edge rusher lineup, and the most expendable asset seems to be Chubb. He definitely wouldn’t expense much in a trade.
4. Jadeveon Clowney, Carolina Panthers
Simply put, the nearly 32-year-old Clowney does not align with the timeline in Carolina as he approaches the last year of his two-year contract. He decreased from 9.5 sacks in 2023 to 5.5 in the latest season, with his total pass rushing stats declining over three fewer games; however, his pass rushing rating from Pro Football Focus (73.2) remained within the top-30 for edge rushers, and he maintained his status as an effective run defender.
Only $2 million of Clowney’s $8.525 million salary for 2025 is completely guaranteed (as reported by Over The Cap), and his earnings include a workout bonus ($200,000) and a roster bonus of $1.275 million per game. Moving him would free up a significant amount of cap space for the Panthers, and a team looking to acquire him could likely do so for a Day 3 draft pick.
It’s simple to look at Clowney’s name and label him an underachiever given all the excitement surrounding him as the top pick in the 2014 draft. However, he has genuinely enjoyed a fairly strong (albeit somewhat journeyed) career, as Pro Football Reference provides comparisons such as Willie McGinest, Osi Umenyiora, Jason Pierre-Paul, and Leonard Little. The Panthers are expected to trade him to a playoff team, and aside from a return to the Ravens, the Lions would be an ideal match.
3. Cameron Jordan, New Orleans Saints
Jordan’s prime is slipping further away with every year that goes by, and he recorded a career-low of 565 defensive snaps at 35 years old during the last season (48 percent of the Saints’ defensive snaps). However, he has still only skipped two games in 14 seasons, and 2024 marked the first occasion since 2014 that PFF did not rank him as a top-50 edge rusher overall.
During Super Bowl week on “Up And Adams” with Kay Adams, Jordan stated clearly that he does not desire a trade.
“I’m not requesting a transfer from any location.” “I’m black and gold for life,” Jordan expressed.
Jordan has a year remaining on his contract, prior to four void years the Saints employed to seemingly prolong the impact of his signing bonus proration for as long as possible. The leftover $11 million from his $12.5 million base salary for 2025 becomes completely guaranteed on March 15 (as per Over The Cap), making a trade more appealing for the Saints as a post-June 1 transaction.
The only thing missing from Jordan’s resume is a Super Bowl ring. Although his “black and gold forever” position is commendable, he must understand that a championship ring eludes him in New Orleans. A significant previous coaching connection in Detroit is certainly absent now (Aaron Glenn), yet Dan Campbell remains, and the new offensive coordinator John Morton was part of Sean Payton’s team in New Orleans for two seasons (2015 and 2016).
Jordan is certainly more of a name than a performer at this stage. However, he is an experienced leader who would blend well with the Lions’ culture, and that holds as much (if not greater) significance as his remaining contributions on the field
2. Maxx Crosby, Las Vegas Raiders
The Lions acquiring Crosby has seemed just as improbable as trading for Garrett, who has repeatedly dismissed the idea of a trade and appears revitalized by the Raiders appointing Pete Carroll as their head coach. However, the circumstance in Las Vegas is expected to be a tough challenge, with three playoff teams for 2024 in the division and the task of finding a quarterback is now being handled by a new management.
Crosby is naturally a native of Michigan and a graduate of Eastern Michigan. He has mentioned that if he were to play for a team besides the Raiders (heaven forbid), it would be the Lions. Next, we received this news from Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport of NFL Media.
Although bringing in Super Bowl champion Pete Carroll was a move towards stability, the Raiders still lack a franchise quarterback and have a considerable amount of work to do to create a competitive roster. Exchanging Crosby for a haul of drafts could accelerate that process, and Crosby might embrace the shift, especially if it’s to a contender where he has connections (e.g. Green Bay).
The particular reference to the divisional competitor Packers definitely stands out. However, the Lions are also a postseason team, and Crosby has a buddy (ex-Lions offensive tackle T.J. Lang) who’s the sideline reporter for Lions’ radio broadcasts.
Crosby clearly understands how to engage on social media, and he shared this on Twitter during Super Bowl Sunday to generate trade speculation for certain individuals.
Similar to Garrett, acquiring Crosby would come at a steep price, and like Garrett, he also has two years remaining on his contract. However, if Crosby were to request a trade from the Raiders, it seems they would be much more open to it than the Browns have been regarding Garrett up to now.
1. Trey Hendrickson, Cincinnati Bengals
Hendrickson requested a trade from the Bengals around the previous draft, but he backed down and attended OTAs with two years remaining on his contract. He then stepped outside and topped the league with 17.5 sacks, bringing his total to 70.5 sacks in the past five seasons (the previous four with the Bengals).
Hendrickson is considerably undercompensated ($15.8 million base salary, $200 total per game roster bonuses in 2025). He is set for a significant contract, and when he showed up on “The Pat McAfee Show” during Super Bowl week, he made it clear he is frustrated with the cheap Bengals not taking care of him and would be okay if a trade occurred.
“It would be wonderful if we could reach a consensus on this matter.” “My wife and I would truly appreciate the chance to remain in Cincinnati,” Hendrickson stated. “If it contributes to the Bengals winning the Super Bowl, whether through picks or similar means, I want to assist in securing a Super Bowl for Cincinnati, regardless of my presence.”
During the Senior Bowl, Bengals general manager Duke Tobin declared his intention to extend Hendrickson, stating that efforts would be pursued in that direction. Evidently, that came as a surprise to Hendrickson.
“I would have liked to receive the news in a different way than getting a tweet from my dad,” Hendrickson told McAfee. “That would have been awesome to discover it like that.”
Hendrickson was notably honest and straightforward regarding his circumstances, much like one would expect in the more relaxed setting of McAfee’s program. Throughout his four seasons in Cincinnati, he has achieved Pro Bowler status every year, recording at least 14 sacks on three occasions. At this point, he justifiably desires compensation comparable to that of a premier edge rusher in the league, and it seems he understands that the Bengals are unlikely to comply.
Indeed, acquiring Hendrickson would involve providing him with a substantial contract extension at a time when the Lions will need to do the same for Aidan Hutchinson shortly. However, this is the price of operating in waters like these, and the Bengals’ management is virtually pleading to be taken advantage of in a trade as Hendrickson increasingly reveals his dissatisfaction.
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