The Detroit Lions have a clear defensive priority this offseason—providing star edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson with much-needed support.
While Hutchinson emerged as a breakout star, his season-ending leg fracture in October exposed the team’s lack of depth at the position. Without him, the Lions struggled to generate pressure on opposing quarterbacks, with no other player recording more than 4.0 sacks for the season.
One analyst suggests that Detroit could address this issue by making a trade for an edge rusher who might benefit from a fresh start elsewhere.
Lions Swap With Super Bowl Champions
Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton explored potential NFL trades and suggested that the Detroit Lions could strike a deal with the Philadelphia Eagles. He proposed that the Lions acquire edge rusher Bryce Huff in exchange for a 2025 fourth-round pick and a 2025 seventh-round pick.
Moton pointed out that while the Eagles signed Huff to a three-year, $51 million contract last offseason, he struggled with injuries and inconsistent play, leading to what could be “buyer’s remorse” after just one season.
“Injuries side lined the 26-year-old for five games, and even when available, his impact was limited,” Moton wrote. “He recorded just 13 tackles, three for loss, 2.5 sacks, and a forced fumble.”
Huff also saw limited playing time under defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, playing more than 47 percent of snaps in only three of his 12 games and not suiting up for Super Bowl LIX.
Moton added that the Eagles might be open to moving Huff for a reasonable price, which could be appealing to a Lions team in need of a dependable pass rusher to complement Hutchinson.
“The Lions lack a reliable edge rusher outside of Aidan Hutchinson,” Moton wrote. “They haven’t re-signed Za’Darius Smith, 2022 second-rounder Josh Paschal has yet to make an impact, and while Marcus Davenport re-signed, injuries have limited him to just six games over the past two seasons.”
Huff, he suggested, could step into a starting role alongside Hutchinson in Detroit.
Other Options for Detroit
The Lions have multiple options to strengthen their pass rush, including through the NFL Draft. Josh Edwards of CBS Sports suggested they could use their No. 28 overall pick to select Texas A&M edge rusher Shemar Stewart.
Edwards highlighted that while Stewart possesses the physical traits of a dominant pass rusher, his on-field production has been inconsistent. However, Detroit could provide an ideal environment for his development, allowing him to refine his skills while opposing offensive lines focus primarily on Aidan Hutchinson.
“Shemar Stewart has incredible athletic potential for someone of his size, but his production has yet to match it,” Edwards wrote. “In Detroit, he wouldn’t need to be the primary pass rusher right away, as the team already has Aidan Hutchinson.”
