According to Sports Illustrated insider Albert Breer, the Detroit Lions may still be in play for a potential trade involving Trey Hendrickson.
Although the Lions have yet to make a significant move along the defensive line this offseason, Trey Hendrickson remains one of the top available players. Hendrickson, who requested a trade from the Cincinnati Bengals, has seen little movement on his trade status since free agency began. This quiet situation doesn’t diminish the possibility of a trade to Detroit, and it’s possible that discussions are ongoing behind the scenes.
In a mailbag, Breer was asked whether the Lions could still pursue Hendrickson, and he didn’t dismiss the idea as quickly as many might have expected. Similarly, Dianna Russini of The Athletic has noted that Hendrickson’s high price is slowing down potential trade discussions. It’s plausible that the Lions are involved in talks given their relative inactivity at the position.
Brad Holmes, the Lions’ general manager, has acknowledged that elite edge players are hard to find. Despite that, the team has passed on several notable free agents like Josh Sweat, Khalil Mack, and Joey Bosa. It remains unclear how this affects their pursuit of Hendrickson, especially with Aidan Hutchinson’s looming contract extension in mind.
Thus far, the Lions have focused on signing role players and retaining their own free agents, with the exception of making a splash move for cornerback DJ Reed. This could indicate their strategy for addressing the edge rusher market.
Breer was also asked whether the Lions plan to add outside pass-rush help. He reminded the fan that the 2025 draft is strong at this position, suggesting that Detroit might even target multiple edge players in April.
In any case, Lions fans should remain alert about Hendrickson. Some still believe a bold move could be on the horizon, even if it seems unlikely.