The Detroit Lions need to give star pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson some help this offseason, and if you’ve read the latest rumor from SI’s Grant Cohn, that makes Maxx Crosby a dream target.
Crosby has been the subject of trade rumors since the Las Vegas Raiders placed him on injured reserve in December, and Cohn suggested the Lions are one of his preferred destinations if he is traded.
Still, it’s hard to see the Lions pulling it off. In an interview with FanDuel TV’s Kay Adams at the Super Bowl, Hutchinson was asked about the chances of him playing with Crosby after a blockbuster trade. But even he admitted it’s a dream that’s better suited for a Madden franchise.
“It just sounds right,” Hutchinson said on the Up & Adams show on Thursday. “I was actually looking that up on the way over here because I heard some rumblings about it, but I don’t know. In the event that it did happen, that would be so dangerous, and me and Max, we have a great relationship. I’d love to play with him. (But) is the likelihood of him coming to Detroit high? No, just given the amount of guys that they have to pay. (In a) dream world, though, it sounds really good, and it sounds right, which I’m all for.”
The dream of Crosby and Hutchinson on the field is killed quickly by the salary cap. But Hutchinson’s comment that he would love to play next to Crosby should be the message Brad Holmes and the rest of the front office need to get him some help this offseason.
Aidan Hutchinson’s Maxx Crosby Comments Should Send Message to Brad Holmes
Hutchinson didn’t say it directly, but finding an additional pass rusher should be a top priority for the Lions this offseason. Detroit went into the 2025 season connected with several top pass-rushers, including Crosby, Myles Garrett, and Trey Hendrickson. The Lions came down with none of them and settled by re-signing Marcus Davenport and Al-Quadin Muhammad in free agency.
Muhammad panned out with a career-high 11 sacks, but that nearly doubled his previous total of six with the Indianapolis Colts in 2021. As a result, Spotrac’s market value projection of $7.9 million may be too much to stomach heading into his age-31 season.
Davenport was also an injury-plagued bet for the second straight year, logging just one sack in eight games. While Davenport should be cheaper than the one-year, $2.5 million contract he signed last summer, he’s unlikely to return, and it’s time for the Lions to take a more serious approach.
This is where Hutchinson’s comments should come into play. The Lions have to give contract extensions to running back Jahmyr Gibbs and Jack Campbell this offseason and could get out ahead of Brian Branch’s torn Achilles with a one-year pact similar to the one the Green Bay Packers did with Christian Watson after his torn ACL.
But even with those deals looming and the Lions currently sitting $8.5 million over the cap, per OverTheCap, the Lions have to get Hutchinson some help. Perhaps Crosby and Hendrickson, the latter who will be a free agent next month, are unrealistic.
But Hutchinson could suggest bringing in a free agent with a better track record, including Joey Bosa of the Buffalo Bills or Khalil Mack of the Los Angeles Chargers. If money is an issue, the draft could also be a good alternative with Texas A&M’s Cashius Howell, Miami’s Akheem Mesidor, or Auburn’s Keldric Faulk available when Detroit is on the clock with the 17th overall pick.
With the Lions looking to rebound after a disappointing 9-8 season, finding a pass rusher should be a top priority. It could be Hutchinson’s comments, whether they’re public or in the middle of Holmes’ office, that make upgrading the unit a more realistic option than trading for Crosby.