BREAKING NEWS: Lions predicted to strike a deal with disgruntled $21 million defender in blockbuster trade

Trey Hendrickson, one of the league’s greatest pass rushers, is unhappy with his current team, the Cincinnati Bengals.

The Hendrickson-Bengals story has been ongoing for over a year, and the defender confirmed that things aren’t going well on Monday by issuing a scathing statement criticizing the organization.

It appears that the excellent edge-rusher will be playing for a new team in 2025, and the Detroit Lions could be one of the better options for him.

 

 

On paper, the Lions have one of the league’s top squads, but finding a capable running mate for Aidan Hutchinson remains a critical issue.

Cody Benjamin of CBS Sports highlighted the Lions as a logical landing location and provided the following analysis.

The Lions did not adequately address the pass rush this offseason, and in fact, they detracted from it by releasing Za’Darius Smith.

Marcus Davenport was re-signed, however he appeared in only two games last season. The Lions did not address the position until the sixth round of the draft, therefore it is unlikely that the rookie will produce significantly.

This means the squad may be compelled to consider the trade market for an improvement. It’s not often that a player like Hendrickson becomes available, so the Lions could seize the opportunity to get the veteran.

In 2024, Hendrickson led the NFL with 17.5 sacks. The veteran also recorded 46 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, and 36 quarterback hits, earning Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro honors.

Hendrickson’s issue with the Bengals is contract-related, so the Lions would need to ensure an extension was completed with the defense. Hendrickson is now set to make $21 million in 2025 before entering free agency the following offseason.

Hendrickson will be expensive to sign and extend, but he could be the missing link that propels the Lions to the Super Bowl.
Hutchinson was the only Lions defense with more than four sacks last year, while Hendrickson has had 17.5 sacks in straight seasons.