The Detroit Lions finished with a 15-2 record during the 2024 NFL season. Detroit was gashed with injuries on defense during the regular season and it eventually caught up to them when they lost to the Washington Commanders in the NFC Divisional Round.
The Lions defense will hope to be healthy in 2025, but Detroit could use some more help on defense. One name to potentially watch for is Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson. Hendrickson is currently holding out of mandatory minicamp on Tuesday for the Bengals and maybe there is a chance that he could be traded entering the final year of his contract.
CBS Sports Thinks That the Detroit Lions Should Trade For Trey Hendrickson
Cody Benjamin of CBS Sports listed five potential trade destinations for Hendrickson after he decided not to show up for mandatory minicamp on Tuesday for Cincinnati. The number one destination that Benjamin listed for the Bengals star pass rusher to be traded to is Detroit. Benjamin said,
“The Lions addressed their offensive line early in the 2025 NFL Draft, also adding wide receiver depth. One area that went curiously overlooked: pass rusher, despite the team desperately needing the since-departed Za’Darius Smith to step in as an Aidan Hutchinson replacement last season. With more than $40 million in 2025 salary cap space still available, they could be a prime landing spot for a proven talent.”
A duo of Hendrickson and Hutchinson could potentially get Detroit over the top in the NFC and potentially win the Super Bowl. During the 2024 NFL season with Cincinnati, he recorded 46 tackles, 17.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and six pass deflections. The Lions have already locked up key players to long-term deals and having a ton of cap space still would help them trying to make a trade for Hendrickson.
This could be the time where Detroit tries to go all-in. The Lions drafted Tyliek Williams from the Ohio State Buckeyes in the first-round of the 2025 NFL Draft to try and fix the defensive line. Hendrickson could be the missing piece for Detroit.
For More Great Football Content
Follow me on Twitter at @glennkaplan13 more great content. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in college and professional football, click here!
