The Detroit Lions fell short of their Super Bowl aspirations this season, and a major reason why is a series of gambles that didn’t pay off. While the hiring of offensive coordinator John Morton is one of the biggest failures of the 2025 season, so was the inability to get anyone to help out star defensive end Aidan Hutchinson.
Hutchinson didn’t have to do everything by himself as Al-Quadin Muhammad’s breakout helped carry some of the load. But Brad Holmes’ decision to place another bet on Marcus Davenport and an early-season injury to sixth-round draft pick Ahmed Hassanein shorthanded Detroit’s pass rush and created an early offseason need.
Going into 2026, the Lions can’t afford to make the same mistake, and, as a result, three names should be toward the top of the list to help out Hutchinson and the rest of Kelvin Sheppard’s defense.
1. Trey Hendrickson (Bengals)
Trey Hendrickson has been on the wish list of Lions fans for over a year now. One of the top pass-rushers in the league, Hendrickson hasn’t gotten the notoriety since he’s been stuck on the Cincinnati Bengals’ defense, and more attention has been given to the organization’s desire to pinch pennies and not sign him to a lucrative contract extension.
Whereas acquiring Hendrickson would have cost some draft capital in addition to a lucrative contract, the ball could be in the Lions’ court this offseason. Hendrickson only had four sacks during the 2025 campaign, as he suffered a season-ending hip and pelvis injury. With him turning 31 last month, the price could be lowered to the point Detroit could squeeze him onto the roster even as they currently sit $7.2 million over the salary cap.
Spotrac currently projects Hendrickson to command an annual salary of $25.4 million. However, even with Detroit’s cap situation, there needs to be a sense of urgency that wasn’t there one year ago. If the Lions want to go big, a few contract restructures and perhaps a difficult decision could finally bring Hendrickson to Detroit.
2. Joseph Ossai (Bengals)
Pillaging one of the league’s worst defenses would be a bold strategy, but if Hendrickson’s contract demands are too much, Ossai could be a solid pivot.
Playing in the Bengals scheme as a down lineman, Ossai racked up 43 total pressures, five sacks, and an 11.4 percent pressure rate on 375 pass-rushing snaps last season, per Pro Football Focus. He also registered 43 total tackles and nine tackles for loss and could be a solid, if not spectacular, signing entering his age 26 season.
Ossai won’t come cheap, as Spotrac estimates he could command $15.1 million annually on the open market. But he would also add some upside to a group that didn’t have a lot of it in 2026.
3. Joey Bosa (Bills)
Going the mercenary route would be difficult to achieve given the Lions’ salary cap situation and several key players, including Jahmyr Gibbs, Jack Campbell, and Sam LaPorta, up for contract extensions this spring. But with urgency needed, it could lead them to Joey Bosa.
Bosa hasn’t been the game-wrecker he was early in his career, when he logged 10 or more sacks in four of his first six seasons, but he’s been effective for the Bills. In addition to 51 pressures, five sacks, and a 14.2 percent pressure rate on 357 pass-rushing snaps, Bosa has provided some game-changing plays with an NFL-leading five forced fumbles.
Set to turn 31 this summer, Bosa could be in the market for chasing a Super Bowl ring, and the Lions should have a great chance of that in 2026. In addition, Spotrac projects him at a $13.7 million price tag that could be had on a one-year deal when he hits the market, providing a perfect tag team partner for Hutchinson, even if it’s just a short-term solution.