The Detroit Lions needed to find another edge rusher this past season, as their defensive line saw second-year star Aidan Hutchinson suffer a season-ending injury. The Lions tried to fix their pass-rushing woes at the trade deadline, acquiring Cleveland Browns veteran Za’Darius Smith.
Smith wasn’t going to replace Hutchinson completely. Still, he did an excellent job, producing 12 combined tackles, 15 QB pressures, quarterback hits, four sacks, and three tackles for loss in eight regular season games.
However, Smith wasn’t the only defender from the Browns that the Lions had their eye on, as they also inquired about superstar pass rusher Myles Garrett.
According to ESPN’s Kimberley A. Martin, the Lions were the most interested team in Garrett ahead of the trade deadline. This is interesting to note because Garrett requested a trade out of Cleveland earlier this month, and the Lions seem like one of the most logical fits.
ICYMI: #Browns GM Andrew Berry told me Myles Garrett is “unmovable.”
— Kimberley A. Martin (@ByKimberleyA) February 26, 2025
I’m also told teams expressed interest in Myles Garrett ahead of last season’s trade deadline. The most interested team? The Lions.
As for now, Browns are expected to meet w/ Myles’ reps this week in Indy. https://t.co/HYOuuDKJOL
That said, Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry isn’t ready to part ways with the superstar defender. According to Martin, Berry told her that Garrett is “unmovable.”
If the Lions added a player like Garrett to their defensive line next season, it would only increase their chances of making it to the Super Bowl. Over the last four years, Garrett has racked up 117 QB hits, 74 tackles for loss, and 60 sacks.
However, Lions GM Brad Holmes threw cold water on the idea of acquiring an elite pass rusher at the NFL Scouting Combine on Tuesday. Holmes also mentioned that the team has begun extension talks with Hutchinson.
According to OverTheCap.com, Detroit is projected to have $51.8 million in cap space, which is enough space to acquire Garrett. The Browns pass rusher is under contract for two more years before becoming an unrestricted free agent in 2027.
Nonetheless, Lions fans would love for the team to take a chance at Garrett. However, given the amount of young talent they need to pay over the next couple of years, Holmes could look elsewhere for pass rushing via the trade market (Trey Hendrickson, Harold Landry) or free agency.