The Detroit Lions are entering a big free agent period and one of their main objectives is to reinforce their pass rush.
The Lions have one of the top edge rushers in the game in Aidan Hutchinson but his broken tibia and fibula sent Detroit scrambling last October. While trading for Za’Darius Smith temporarily filled the void, Detroit will be looking for a long-term partner with Hutchinson to make another bid toward reaching the Super Bowl.
With the start of free agency just days away, there are a few options that they could take. And one of them just opened up with some news on Thursday afternoon.
Bengals Give Trey Hendrickson Permission to Seek A Trade
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Cincinnati Bengals have given edge rusher Trey Hendrickson permission to seek a trade. It’s the second straight year that Hendrickson has asked to be traded but the Bengals seem willing to oblige as they center their offseason strategy around locking up Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase.
The #Bengals have given Pro Bowl Edge Trey Hendrickson permission to seek a trade, per me and @TomPelissero. pic.twitter.com/mTyi4M5rjx
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 6, 2025
Hendrickson is coming off his best season as a pro, leading the NFL with 17.5 sacks on the way to earning All-Pro honors. A four-time Pro Bowl selection, Hendrickson has established himself as one of the best pass rushers in the league as only T.J. Watt (73.5) and Myles Garrett (72.0) have more sacks than Hendrickson’s 70.5 sacks over the past five seasons.
It should also be noted that Hendrickson Watt and Garrett are the only three players with 60 or more sacks during that span with the next closest being San Francisco 49ers star Nick Bosa’s 53.5 sacks.
While some fans are more interested in Garrett after his trade request from the Cleveland Browns, Hendrickson may be a better target. Hendrickson’s $18.6 million cap hit for next season is manageable for the Lions to squeeze into their $51.1 million in cap space and Detroit could create an even lower number if they sign Hendrickson to an extension entering the final year of his deal.
Hendrickson also has the advantage of also being available as the Browns have insisted on keeping Garrett and would eat $36.2 million in dead money and a $16.4 million cap penalty if he’s traded before June 1.
With eight picks in the upcoming draft, the Lions have the capital to get a deal done and Hendrickson’s request may have put him one step closer to joining Hutchinson in Detroit.