JUST IN: Lions With Another Incredible Signing: Lions and Brad Holmes Have Officially Completed The Signing Of Pro Bowl Pass-Rusher to Pair with Aidan Hutchinson

If the Detroit Lions had a fully healthy defense entering the postseason, they could have advanced beyond the NFC divisional round of the playoffs. Perhaps the most difficult challenge for the Lions to overcome was the loss of Pro Bowl pass-rusher Aidan Hutchinson, who was leading the NFL in sacks (7.5) until he fractured his tibia in a Week 6 victory against the Dallas Cowboys and missed the remainder of the season.

Though Detroit acquired defensive end Za’Darius Smith at the trade deadline to fill Hutchinson’s shoes, he made little impact and was released at the start of the new league year, prompting Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox to suggest the team trade for another Pro Bowl pass-rusher to help support Hutchinson next season. Knox encouraged the Lions to target disgruntled Cincinnati Bengals player Trey Hendrickson, who led the NFL with 83 pressures and 17.5 sacks this season, according to Pro Football Focus. “The draft is an option for filling the void-the Bleacher Report Scouting Department paired Detroit with Georgia’s Mykel Williams in its latest mock draft-but the Lions should also consider a trade for Trey Hendrickson,” Knox advised.

“The Lions should try to acquire Hendrickson, as other teams have been unable to do so. Pairing him with Hutchinson would give Detroit one of the most destructive pass-rushing tandems in the NFL. Hendrickson has expressed dissatisfaction with his contract situation with the Bengals, even asking a trade earlier this month. Cincinnati granted him permission to seek a trade, but other teams rejected the Bengals’ rumored asking price.

While it’s no secret that Hendrickson was being shopped, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler recently claimed that the Bengals are more likely to keep him and negotiate a contract extension than to trade him to another team. “[A trade] would take a really hefty trade package,” ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler recently noted on “SportsCenter.” “Teams are unwilling to do that and pay Hendrickson right now. So, as much as I want to go with the field, I believe Hendrickson and the Bengals can work something out on a new contract.”