Detroit Lions followers have fantasized all offseason about buying and selling for the likes of a move rusher like Myles Garrett or Maxx Crosby. Sadly, Crosby signed an extension with the Raiders this week, and the Browns stay adamant that Garrett—who publicly requested a commerce—will not be up for grabs.
Nonetheless, on Thursday, the 2024 NFL sack chief has requested and been granted permission for a commerce. Per a number of reviews, Cincinnati Bengals edge rusher Trey Hendrickson is now free to hunt out a commerce.
Hendrickson is 30 years previous, however he’s produced 17.5 sacks in back-to-back seasons. The truth is, he’s had not less than 13 sacks in 4 of his final 5 seasons. Since 2020, solely T.J. Watt (73.5) and Myles Garrett (72.0) have extra sacks than Hendrickson. At 6-foot-4, 270 kilos, he’s additionally obtained the scale and energy to carry the sting within the run recreation.
Maybe much more notably, Hendrickson has a historical past with Lions coach Dan Campbell. Hendrickson spent the primary 4 years of his profession (2017-20) with the New Orleans Saints, when Campbell was the staff’s assistant head coach/tight ends coach.
The trick in buying Hendrickson would be the monetary price. Detroit might simply afford no matter draft capital it might price to commerce for the 30-year-old defensive finish, however Hendrickson clearly needs a brand new contract. He’s on the ultimate yr of his present deal, which features a $15.8 million wage and a complete of $200,000 in roster bonuses. However after ending because the sack chief in 2024—and seeing Maxx Crosby’s $34.5 million a yr extension—Hendrickson is due for a big elevate.
In the meantime, the Lions have a move rusher of their very own they plan on paying in Aidan Hutchinson. Would the Lions be excited by handing out two mega-contracts to move rushers this offseason? Lions normal supervisor Brad Holmes poured some chilly water on the thought final week throughout the NFL Mix when he was requested if Detroit would make a transfer for a franchise edge rusher.
“These guys are onerous to amass, and it’s onerous to maintain them, financially,” Holmes stated. “Once more, now we have one which’s due for an extension and we’ve already form of gotten to the planning phases about him already. While you speak about including one other, it’s are you able to financially add one other one? Since you need to add the opposite one on high of all the pieces else you have already got, and that makes it powerful.”
However we will see.
