Should the Lions Trade for Trey Hendrickson to Boost Their Super Bowl Hopes?

Is Trey Hendrickson the Missing Piece for Detroit’s Super Bowl Push?

Trey Hendrickson, the Cincinnati Bengals’ standout edge rusher, is stuck in a contract standoff with his team. And while the Bengals have yet to officially budge, the buzz around the NFL keeps growing louder—especially when it comes to a potential suitor in the Motor City: the Detroit Lions.

Let's get one thing straight—until Hendrickson and the Bengals figure things out, trade rumors will keep flying like confetti. And why wouldn’t they? Hendrickson is a three-time Pro Bowler with 17.5 sacks last season and a relentless motor. Put simply, he's the kind of game-changer teams dream about when thinking Super Bowl or bust.

📌 The Lions Are in the Mix. But Should They Be?

Enter the Detroit Lions. After a thrilling 2023 season that saw them just fall short of the Super Bowl, Detroit is a team hungry to finish the job. They’re built tough, their offense is firing, and Aidan Hutchinson has blossomed into a top-tier pass rusher. But if there’s one area that could use a serious boost, it’s that secondary edge position. The Lions haven’t quite found their Batman-and-Robin combo on the edge, and Hendrickson could be just that.

That’s why ESPN analyst Ben Solak cooked up a spicy hypothetical trade proposal. In Solak's deal, the Bengals would send Hendrickson and a 2026 fifth-round pick to Detroit in exchange for a 2026 second-round pick and a conditional 2027 fourth-rounder that could escalate to a third.

Solak didn't hold back:

"Lions general manager Brad Holmes has acknowledged the fan base wants a secondary edge rusher far more than he does, but I imagine a player of Hendrickson's caliber would change Holmes' calculus slightly."

And let’s be real—he’s right.

🧨 Aidan Hutchinson + Trey Hendrickson = Chaos for QBs

Just picture it: Hutchinson and Hendrickson lining up opposite each other. That's nightmare fuel for opposing quarterbacks. You’d have the perfect blend of youth, aggression, and high-level technique—exactly what Detroit needs to go toe-to-toe with the elite offenses in the NFC.

Sure, Hendrickson might not be the run-stopping DE Dan Campbell drools over in film sessions, but his pass-rushing chops are elite. He's a quarterback hunter through and through, and pairing him with Hutchinson could unlock a whole new level of chaos on passing downs.

If the Lions are serious about chasing a ring, they can’t afford to wait around for young guys to develop when proven talent like Hendrickson might be available for the right price.

💰 The Money Question: Can Detroit Afford Him?

Now let’s address the elephant in the locker room—money. Yes, Detroit has the cap flexibility now, with around $40 million projected for 2025. But things get a little tighter come 2026, where they’re currently set to be about $14 million over the cap, per Spotrac.

But here's the good news: that problem isn’t unfixable.

Teams juggle the cap like a circus act these days. All it would take is a smart restructure of someone like quarterback Jared Goff, who’s currently scheduled to pull in a massive $55 million in base salary. Extend him, spread that money out, and boom—you’ve got some breathing room.

So yes, Detroit can afford to trade for and extend Hendrickson. But it’s not just about him.

📉 Contract Extensions Are Lurking Around the Corner

Here's where things get tricky for GM Brad Holmes.

Beyond Hendrickson, several of Detroit’s young core players are about to come knocking with extension requests—and they won’t be cheap. Aidan Hutchinson, the team's homegrown sack machine, will be looking for top-tier edge rusher money. Safety Brian Branch, a defensive Swiss Army knife, will be due for a raise too. Then there’s tight end Sam LaPorta—who's become a cornerstone in Ben Johnson’s offense.

All three players still have two years left on their rookie deals, but as any NFL front office will tell you, the smart teams lock up their stars before they hit the open market.

So if Detroit wants Hendrickson, they’ll need to think ahead—and maybe juggle a few contracts at the same time. It’s doable, but it’ll require some cap gymnastics.

🤔 But... Is It Worth It?

Here’s where the rubber meets the road.

Trading for Hendrickson means giving up valuable draft picks. It also means dealing with his contract demands and figuring out how he fits into the team’s long-term financial puzzle. But it also means sending a message to the locker room—and to the entire league—that Detroit isn’t just playing for playoff wins. They’re chasing the Lombardi.

Detroit hasn’t seen a Super Bowl in franchise history. That hunger is real. And fans are ready for aggressive, win-now moves—especially if it means pushing this squad from contender to champion.

And don’t forget—Holmes has already proven he’s not afraid to make bold moves when the time is right. If he believes Hendrickson is the final piece of the puzzle, he just might pull the trigger.

🔥 The Bottom Line

Here’s the deal in a nutshell:

• The Fit? Hendrickson next to Hutchinson would be a pass-rushing dream.

• The Price? Not outrageous. A second and conditional fourth? Worth considering.

• The Cap? Tight in 2026, but manageable with some smart restructures.

• The Risk? Balancing Hendrickson’s payday with upcoming extensions.

• The Reward? A legitimate shot at hoisting the franchise’s first Super Bowl trophy.

If Holmes and Campbell truly believe 2025 is the year to make that leap, then adding Hendrickson might be more than feasible—it might be necessary.

So don’t be shocked if the phones in Cincinnati and Detroit start ringing a little more often. The Lions are knocking on the door of greatness. The only question is—how bold are they willing to be to kick it down?

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Detroit Lions eye Bengals DE Trey Hendrickson amid contract drama. Can a blockbuster trade elevate their Super Bowl dreams?