It’s an interesting time in the history of the Detroit Lions, because even though the team has enjoyed some historic years, there are a lot of question marks going into the new season. Mainly, the Lions are forging ahead with a new staff, now that they’ve lost both Ben Johnson, their offensive coordinator, and Aaron Glenn, their defensive coordinator.
But, that’s all in the past, and it’s time to move forward. One of the biggest issues in the Lions’ camp right now is finding a solid edge to couple with Aidan Hutchinson.
Lions GM Brad Holmes, speaking in a June 12 interview with Chris Long, opened up about the idea filling that gap in the lineup, and he didn’t seem to think it was too urgent. When he was asked about where Detroit is with defensive ends, he skirted the issue, instead pumping up the team’s current lineup.
Holmes discussed Hutchinson looking “explosive” and Marcus Davenport appearing “just as good” but didn’t talk about bringing a new player into the fold. But, this is an issue that hopefully will get addressed at some point, and there’s an available player who could be the perfect fit.
The Lions Need to Consider This Under-the-Radar Player
So, everyone and their second cousin wants to see the Lions trade for Trey Hendrickson of the Cincinnati Bengals, but there’s a different player who could make more sense.
As far as Hendrickson, he’s the NFL’s sacks leader (although I predict Hutchinson will top him in 2025) and had 17.5 quarterback takedowns in the past two seasons. He’s a beast on the field in the best possible way.
But, it’s still up in the air if the Bengals will work out a deal with him. “They’re being unreasonable,” one executive said, according to Jason La Canfora of the Washington Post, in a story about the contract talks. With his kind of numbers on the field, he could certainly hold out for a while.
Even if the Bengals don’t work out a deal with Hendrickson, he might just be too high a price for the Lions. That’s where this backup player comes in.
GettyKayvon Thibodeaux #5 of the New York Giants in action.
Another edge who’s being talked about in the NFL, but not so much as a fit for the Lions, is Kayvon Thibodeaux of the New York Giants. Sure, he hasn’t had the level of success that Hendrickson has seen, but who has?
The Detroit Lions Could Score a Deal
Thibodeaux has been part of the Giants’ very struggling squad. They only won 3 games last season. So, having him with a stacked team like the Lions could truly help someone like him thrive.
The 2022 first-round pick yet has just enough experience in the NFL to have a veteran presence but is also still young enough, at 24, to be a player of the future.
The New York Giants picked up fifth-year option on Thibodeaux’s deal, but they could delete his $14.8 million 2026 cap by trading him away. That could make the Giants really willing to work out a deal, and that may mean a great deal for the Lions. It’s certainly something to consider, in my eyes. Reach out to me with your ideas for the Lions’ newest edge.
