ALLEN PARK -- The NFL’s trade deadline is a little more than three weeks away, and ESPN wants to see the Detroit Lions go all the way in this year.
ESPN listed 13 trades they want to see happen, working within the parameters “to find deals that could actually happen in real life.” And they aren’t taking a conservative approach when it comes to Detroit’s pass rush, wanting to see the team land two big-time additions at edge rusher.
We’ll add some context to the situation along the way to help balance those desires and expectations.
The first trade wish has the Lions swinging for the fences, with the Lions sending a second-round pick to the Cincinnati Bengals for star pass rusher Trey Hendrickson and a fourth-round pick.
“Let’s see the Lions make their all-in move,” Bill Barnwell writes. “General manager Brad Holmes comes from Los Angeles, where the Rams sent second- and third-round picks to the Broncos to add Von Miller in 2021, paying extra to get Denver to eat virtually all of Miller’s remaining salary.
“If the Lions are ever going to make that all-in swing, this is the year. Holmes has more than $25 million in cap space and a bevy of players coming up for contracts after this season ... Trading for a player on a short-term contract, such as Hendrickson, is a luxury the Lions can afford now. It will be much more difficult in the years to come.”
ESPN isn’t wrong in that regard, as they also note the upcoming possible extensions for pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson, running back Jahmyr Gibbs, linebacker Jack Campbell, tight end Sam LaPorta and defensive back Brian Branch.
This is also the turning point we’ve been wondering might come during Holmes’ tenure in Detroit. He worked under Les Snead in Los Angeles, who is no stranger to trading draft picks for big assets.
But to this point, Holmes has built the Lions through the draft, and it’s working pretty well. Hendrickson is on a one-year deal that carries a cap number of $25.16 million this year and $6.5 million next year. Yes, it would be a short-term boost, as the Lions are going to prioritize their own for extensions. But a second-round pick carries a ton of value around here, because the Lions have made the draft their talent acquisition zone.
There is no doubt Hendrickson would bring another level to the team’s pass rush on the other side of Hutchinson. But this would represent the biggest swing of Holmes’ tenure in Detroit.
“This analogy popped in my head this morning -- You have financial responsibilities,” Holmes said back in March. “You have a mortgage or your kid’s college fund, your 529, you have insurance you have to pay. You know you have to pay those things. But that might require that you can’t take the vacation you really want right now this summer. So, that’s kind of where we are right now. We had so many of these young players that have been on rookie deals and we’ve been enjoying the impact that they’ve all been bringing. But now, a bill is coming.
“What you spend this year is going to impact next year, even impacts 2027. So, that’s the discipline that we have to adhere to ... And if I was a fan, as much as I love our fans, I’d be the same way. Like, hey, ‘Splash! Get guys. Spend the money. Let’s go.’ But I just wanted to make sure the fans understand that we’re being disciplined in our approach because we’re trying to win now and also sustain what we want to do.”
ESPN wasn’t done there. They also had the Lions sending a fourth-rounder to the Miami Dolphins for edge rusher Jaelan Phillips and a seventh-rounder.
The Dolphins are 1-5 and are one of the more popular teams picked to sell ahead of the trade deadline. Phillips would also likely be another rental as his contract is up after this season. He has a cap number of $13.25 million for this season.
While ESPN is aggressive in what they want to see from the Lions, at least they are picking players on the back end of their deals.
“It would hurt the Lions to trade multiple draft picks for Hendrickson and Phillips on short-term contracts, but they would likely be in position to recoup some of those selections later on,” Barnwell writes. “Given the amount of money they’ll need to spend over the next 12 months to keep their young talent around on new contracts, it would be a surprise if the Lions were heavy spenders in free agency this upcoming offseason.”
Hutchinson is playing like a defensive player of the year frontrunner. Alim McNeill is expected to make his return this week on the defensive line. And Marcus Davenport is expected back this season.
Also, edge defender Al-Quadin Muhammad is enjoying a career-best season, with the Lions saying like they found their “guy” opposite Hutchinson.
But Holmes is about rewarding and keeping his draft picks. Hutchinson is going to push for top-of-the-line money comparable to what quarterbacks get, and it’s not like Branch, Gibbs, Campbell or LaPorta are going to come cheap. They have built the foundation on the backs of these players, and at the end of the day, it’s all about them.
The short-term allure of Hendrickson and Phillips is intriguing. But it would be a big shift to see Holmes trade away his picks for veterans and lose their flexibility, no matter what happened in Los Angeles while he was there.
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