This offseason, the Detroit Lions have one clear goal on defense: to aid star edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson.
Though Hutchinson emerged as a breakout talent for the Lions, his season-ending injury last season highlighted the team’s depth issues at the position. Following Hutchinson’s season-ending leg fracture in October, the Lions struggled to apply pressure on opposing quarterbacks, with no other player exceeding 4.0 total sacks for the season.
One analyst feels the Lions can find help this summer by making a trade for an edge rusher who may need a change of scenery.
Lions Trade with Super Bowl Champions
Moe Moton of Bleacher Report looked into various prospective NFL deals and said that the Lions could find a partner in the Philadelphia Eagles. Moton offered that the Lions deal for edge rusher Bryce Huff in return for a 2025 fourth-round and seventh-round pick.
Moton highlighted that the Lions granted Huff a three-year contract worth $51 million last summer, but struggled to find a position for him on the field due to injuries and uneven play, and that they may have “buyer’s remorse after one season.”
“Due to injury, the 26-year-old missed five games. Even when healthy, he had a minor impact, recording 13 tackles, three for loss, 2.5 sacks, and a forced fumble,” Moton said.
“Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio used him sparingly.” Huff played more than 47% of the snaps in only three of his 12 outings, and he did not dress for Super Bowl LIX.
Moton noted that the Eagles may be prepared to part with Huff for a modest fee, which may be appealing to a Lions club in need of a dependable pass rusher to line up opposite Hutchinson.
“The Lions don’t have a reliable edge-rusher other than Aidan Hutchinson.” Moton wrote. “They haven’t re-signed Za’Darius Smith, and 2022 second-round pick Josh Paschal hasn’t worked out. Marcus Davenport re-signed with the organization, however he has only appeared in six games over the last two years due to injury.
“Huff could carve out a starting role opposite Hutchinson on the defensive line in Detroit.”
Other Options for Detroit
The Lions may have other options to pursue in their attempt to improve the pass rush. According to CBS Sports’ Josh Edwards, the Lions could utilize their No. 28 overall pick to draft Texas A&M edge rusher Shemar Stewart.
Stewart has all of the physical characteristics of a productive pass rusher, according to Edwards, but he has struggled to translate those into results on the field for the Aggies at times.
The Lions could be an ideal environment for the young edge rusher to develop his talent while another player receives the majority of attention from opposing offensive lines.
“Shemar Stewart has incredible athletic potential for a human being of his size, but the production has just not been there to this point in his career,” Edwards pointed out. “He goes to Detroit where he does not have to be the team’s most productive pass rusher immediately since it already has Aidan Hutchinson.”
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