At the trade deadline in the middle of the 2024 NFL season, the Detroit Lions traded for edge rusher Za’Darius Smith.
In eight total games with the Lions, Smith recorded four sacks and 12 total tackles.
Although his stats don’t jump off the page, he was a vital piece to the team’s pass rush in the absence of Aidan Hutchinson during the latter part of the year
The Lions cut Smith earlier this offseason to after admitting they couldn’t afford him, but there has been speculation that they could reunite with him on a cheaper contract, especially after Smith said he wanted to return to Detroit.
Without Smith, the Lions only have Hutchinson, who is coming off a fractured tibia and fibula, and Marcus Davenport, who has only played in six games over the past two seasons off the edge.
According to FOX Sports, The Lions ranked 20th in total defense last season, giving up an average of 342.4 yards per game.
Adding D.J. Reed in free agency and Tyleik Williams in the first round of the NFL Draft, the Lions made it clear that changes on defense were a priority.
In a recent article by Kristopher Knox of the Bleacher Report, Knox emphasized that the Lions need a second edge rusher opposite Hutchinson and identified All-Pro Trey Hendrickson as an ideal option.
“The Lions have long needed a quality second edge-rusher opposite Aidan Hutchinson. They have Marcus Davenport in that role currently, but Hendrickson would be a clear and obvious upgrade.”
Hendrickson could find himself to be on the trade block at some point before the start of the season due to a contract dispute.
The four-time Pro Bowler led the NFL in sacks in 2024 with 17.5 and was the runner-up for Defensive Player of the Year.
The addition of Hendrickson would not only be a massive upgrade to what the team already has at the position, but would also allow Davenport to become a rotational piece, providing the team more much-needed depth.
The addition of the All-Pro would also give the Lions one of the best — if not the best — pass-rushing duos in the league.
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