The Detroit Lions have often been projected as a popular landing spot for disgruntled Cincinnati Bengals star pass rusher Trey Hendrickson, and the latest development in this saga is only going to make those who want to see this pairing realized get even more boisterous.
Hendrickson has officially decided to make things even more uncomfortable for everyone involved, sitting out mandatory minicamp in the hope of either forcing a new contract or trade out of town. It seems unlikely that Hendrickson will be a Bengal for much longer after this latest development.
The Lions have had a tough offseason, as they have lost some big-name players like Carlton Davis in free agency before watching All-Pro center Frank Ragnow walk away from football. Hendrickson, however, has been throwing a series of rose petals at their feet by making his divorce from the Bengals more likely than ever before.
The Lions need to act fast, lest a rival in the division make this move first.
Lions' Trey Hendrickson trade could become real after minicamp holdout
Hendrickson is coming off a season in which he led the NFL with 17.5 sacks and was named a First Team All-Pro performer. No one Detroit could consider adding in the next few months could even hold a candle to Hendrickson as a player, which should send alarm bells off for Brad Holmes.
The Lions have been very cavalier about trading draft picks in recent years, and Holmes is likely not going to stop now that someone who could further reinforce their stats as one of the best teams in the league appears to be available to anyone who meets Cincinnati's price.
Detroit's decision not to spend any of their top picks in the 2025 NFL Draft on pass rushers leaves Aidan Hutchinson fresh off a major injury as their only above-average outside disruptor. With offenses like those of Washington, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles in this conference, Hutchinson alone is not going to get it done.
The Lions have an even clearer sign from the universe that a Hutchinson trade needs to happen as soon as possible, and they would be fools to let such a golden opportunity pass them by. This window is not going to stay open forever, especially with a minimal pass rush.