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The Bengals are expected to have Trey Hendrickson at their disposal in Week 8 vs. the Jets
The Detroit Lions are looking to rebound from their disappointing 2025 season, and could have the chance to start with a defensive overhaul.
The team has tried for three years to find a competent counterpart to edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson, mostly falling short in the efforts. One analyst believes they will have the best chance yet this offseason, with a star edge rusher set to hit free agency and the Lions able to open up the checkbook for him.
Lions First in Line for Trey Hendrickson
Mike Moriatis of The Sporting News predicted the Lions would make a run at Cincinnati Bengals edge rusher Trey Hendrickson, one of the top free agents this offseason. Moraitis predicted that Hendrickson is ready to move on from the Bengals and could find a good landing spot in Detroit.
“The expectation is that Hendrickson doesn’t want anything to do with Cincinnati after the team refused to pay him the contract he deserves in recent years,” Moraitis wrote. “The Bengals do have the option of utilizing the franchise tag and then trading Hendrickson, but it remains to be seen if they’ll take that approach.”
Moraitis suggested that signing Hendrickson would be a bold move for the Lions, but one the team desperately needs.
“Hendrickson would be the perfect all-in move for the Lions and we would have no issue with Detroit trading for him if that’s what it takes,” Moraitis wrote.
The move would not come cheap. Moraitis noted that the Sportrac projects Hendrickson to land a two-year, $50 million contract in free agency — but suggested it would be a “bargain” for the player who led the NFL in sacks from 2023-24.
Moraitis is not the only one who believes the Lions will make a run at Hendrickson. Christian Booher of SI.com suggested he would be a logical offseason target, noting that his market could be a bit softer after injury concerns arose last season.
“There are several high-end defensive free agents in this year’s crop, and the Lions may be inclined to find their complementary piece to Aidan Hutchinson in free agency instead of the draft,” Booher wrote. “Trey Hendrickson is the top free agent available, though his value may have dipped after an up-and-down 2025 season hampered by injury.”
Another Big Target for the Lions
The Lions could take another big swing at an edge rusher this season. Las Vegas Raiders star Maxx Crosby is reportedly unhappy with the direction of his team and the decision to shut him down for the final two weeks of the season.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that several teams are ready to make a run at Crosby, with the Lions at the front of the line for a trade.
“I believe more than a dozen teams, possibly up to 20, will at least inquire with levels of serious intent. And there are some natural would-be contenders, including the Bills, Lions, 49ers, Cowboys and Ravens,” Fowler wrote, via SI.com.
Crosby would likely come at an even higher cost to the Lions, with some reports suggesting he will fetch a price close to — a pair of first-round picks and a player.
Nathan Dougherty is a sports reporter covering the NFL for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Buffalo Bills, Detroit Lions and Miami Dolphins. Previously he wrote for the Rochester Business Journal and served as the assistant editor of athletic trade magazines Coaching Management, Athletic Management and Training & Conditioning. He is based out of Rochester, New York, and loves everything football. More about Nathan Dougherty
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