If the Detroit Lions want to see their regular-season efforts pay off with an extended playoff run this season, a trade before the deadline could be in order, and there are calls for the franchise to go all-in to make it happen.
ESPN’s Bill Barnwell released a list of 13 trades he believes make sense before the deadline on Nov. 4 at 4 p.m. ET.
Barnwell suggested the Lions target not one, but two pass-rushers to help Aidan Hutchinson.
Whether or not the Lions get active at or before the trade deadline remains to be seen. They rank fourth in sacks heading into “Thursday Night Football” in Week 7, but they are 14th in scoring defense and 22nd overall.
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First, Barnwell suggested the Lions send a second-round pick in the 2026 NFL draft to the Cincinnati Bengals for 2024 sacks leader Trey Hendrickson.
“Let’s see the Lions make their all-in move,” Barnwell wrote on Thursday, citing Lions general manager Brad Holmes’ background. “The Lions have one superstar up front in Aidan Hutchinson, but they’ve never really landed that second one.
“Trading for a player on a short-term contract such as Hendrickson is a luxury the Lions can afford now. It will be much more difficult in the years to come. And while Holmes and coach Dan Campbell are very careful about establishing a culture in Detroit, Campbell would have crossed paths with the talented defensive end when he and Hendrickson were both in New Orleans. This wouldn’t be as risky as it seems.”
Hendrickson is a four-time Pro Bowler and was a first-team All-Pro last season.
However, Barnwell did not stop there, going on to suggest the Lions send a fourth-round selection in this year’s draft to the Miami Dolphins for Jaelan Phillips.
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Barnwell noted the former No. 18 overall pick of the 2021 NFL draft’s stats “aren’t overwhelming” but that there is “more to like under the hood.”
“Adding Phillips would give defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard more depth at edge rusher and the ability to present some exotic looks and real problems for guards on passing downs,” Barnwell wrote. “It would hurt the Lions to trade multiple draft picks for Hendrickson and Phillips on short-term contracts, but they would likely be in position to recoup some of those selections later on.”
Barnwell argues that surrendering second- and fourth-round picks, while getting both Hendrickson and Phillips, is not an arduous price for the Lions to pay as a team with Super Bowl aspirations. Hendrickson’s four sacks this season would rank third on the Lions, as would Phillips’ 11 pressures. Both could help the Lions if traded to Detroit.
The Lions have two games and their bye week before the trade deadline.
