Even without top edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson, the Detroit Lions appear to be the NFC’s best team, but the franchise will almost certainly want to replace its injured defensive end with a high-level player. With less than two weeks until the NFL’s November 5 trade deadline, the Lions will need to move quickly.
Typically, a team in their position would hunt for a bargain-bin player at a good price, but with the Super Bowl window wide open this season, head coach Dan Campbell is likely to take a big swing rather than try to lay down a bunt.
Enter three-time Pro Bowl pass rusher Trey Hendrickson of the Cincinnati Bengals, whom ESPN’s Benjamin Solak urged Detroit to pursue on Wednesday, October 23.
“He requested a trade from the Bengals during the offseason, and I think Cincinnati would move him for the right (steep) price,” Solak explained. “He isn’t the big, long body that Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn typically prefers at edge rusher, but his pass rush track record is undeniable.” He’s one of the few, if not the only, players who could be available before the deadline and fill the vacuum left by Hutchinson’s injury.
Hendrickson has [7] sacks (tied for fourth in the NFL) and a pass rush win percentage of 27.5% this season (third).
Hendrickson recorded 17.5 sacks for the Bengals last season, a career best, and has 66.5 sacks in 100 games throughout his eight years in the league.
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