When the Detroit Lions picked second overall back in 2022, they knew they were going to have options to get themselves an upgrade on the edge.
Aidan Hutchinson, Travon Walker, and Kayvon Thibodeaux were all seen as premium pass rush options heading into the draft.
After Walker went first overall, the Lions selected Hutchinson in a move that has worked out pretty well for them, with him already having established himself as one of the league's best edge rushers three years later.
Now Pro Football Focus' Mason Cameron thinks the Lions should go after one of the other edge rushers who was a top-five pick in that draft class.
In an article discussing trades certain teams around the league should look to make to round out their roster, Cameron suggested the Lions should try to trade for Thibodeaux to fix their need for an edge rusher to complement Hutchinson.
Thiboeaux ended up being selected fifth overall by the New York Giants in that draft and has given them mixed results since they drafted him.
Thibodeaux only had four sacks as a rookie, but did make 49 tackles and put together his best performances late in the season, which gave fans hope for his development.
He lived up to that hope in his second season with the team, racking up 11.5 sacks, 50 total tackles, 12 tackles for a loss, and three forced fumbles.
Then he regressed a bit in year three. This past season, Thibodeaux was responsible for just six sacks and 38 total pressures. Those ranked 42nd and 47th respectively among edge rushers according to PFF.
I thought the Lions should go after Thibodeux's former Giants teammate, Azeez Ojulari, in free agency, but he has now signed with the Eagles.
With him out of the picture, Thibodeaux makes sense for the same reasons he did.
He is young and has shown major potential in his best season. He would cost the Lions a lot more than his former teammate would have, but also comes with more upside.
The Lions can't go into the 2025 season with Marcus Davenport as their second option in the pass rush and there aren't many players in this year's draft who had the kind of college production that would indicate they'll be ready to contribute early.
That could lead the Lions to pursue a trade and Thibodeaux would be a good fit for them if they do.
