The Lions could go all in.
Lions projected to make two massive trades before NFL trade deadline originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Detroit Lions are coming off a double-digit loss to the Kansas City Chiefs - their first loss since Week 1 where they lost to the Green Bay Packers. One thing that is very evident with the Lions is that they need a Robin to Aidan Hutchinson's Batman.
ESPN's Bill Barnwell sees this, as well, which is why he projects the Lions will trade for Cincinnati Bengals star Trey Hendrickson.
"I've pitched a Hendrickson-to-the-Lions trade before, and it has come with more draft capital going to the Bengals," Barnwell writes. "This wouldn't be as lucrative of a deal. Why? Timing. If the Lions were going to acquire Hendrickson during the offseason, it would have been as part of a move to sign the star pass rusher to an extension. Now, with Hendrickson in the final year of his deal, this would be a pure rental. The Bengals are closer to losing Hendrickson for nothing in free agency."
Not only does Barnwell have the Lions acquiring Hendrickson - a trade many people have proposed - he has them double-dipping to trade for another edge rusher in Jaelan Phillips from the Miami Dolphins.
"Phillips' stats aren't overwhelming, as the 2021 first-round pick has just one sack and three knockdowns through five games, but there's a lot more to like under the hood," Barnwell writes. "His 14.5% pressure rate and 6.8% quick pressure rate, both per Next Gen Stats, are well above league average for edge rushers with 100 or more snaps this season. Phillips' average pressure comes after just 2.6 seconds, the seventh-fastest rate among that cohort. He has battled a series of injuries, including an Achilles tear and a pair of ACL tears, but he has been healthy this season."
The Lions' lack of pass rushers opposite Aidan Hutchinson is noteworthy, and if they were to make these moves, they would immediately become the top threat in the NFC.
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