Aidan Hutchinson may have been speaking hypothetically, but his recent comments about Maxx Crosby shine a bright light on what the Detroit Lions need most this offseason: another legitimate edge rusher.

Crosby has been floating around the rumor mill ever since the Raiders shut him down and placed him on injured reserve late in the year. According to Sports Illustrated’s Grant Cohn, Detroit is among the teams Crosby would welcome as a landing spot if Las Vegas ever explored a trade. On paper, pairing Crosby with Hutchinson would give the Lions one of the most feared pass-rushing duos in football.

Reality, however, paints a very different picture.

While appearing on FanDuel TV with Kay Adams during Super Bowl week, Hutchinson addressed the speculation himself. Asked whether he could envision lining up next to Crosby in Detroit, Hutchinson admitted it’s far more fantasy than feasible.

“It just sounds right,” Hutchinson said on Up & Adams. “I actually looked into it on the way here because I’d heard a few things, but I don’t know. If it ever did happen, it’d be insane. Me and Max have a great relationship, and I’d love to play with him. But realistically? Probably not. There are a lot of guys they need to pay. In a perfect world, though, it sounds amazing.”

The salary cap alone makes a Crosby trade extremely unlikely. Still, Hutchinson’s enthusiasm — even in a hypothetical sense — underscores something the Lions can’t ignore: he needs help coming off the edge.

Hutchinson’s Words Should Be a Wake-Up Call

Hutchinson never outright demanded reinforcements, but the implication was clear. Detroit must prioritize adding another proven pass rusher this offseason.

The Lions were linked to several big-name edge defenders last year, including Crosby, Myles Garrett, and Trey Hendrickson, but came up empty. Instead, they opted to retain Marcus Davenport and Al-Quadin Muhammad.

Muhammad exceeded expectations with a career-best 11 sacks, nearly doubling his previous high of six set back in 2021. That breakout, however, could price him out of Detroit’s range. Spotrac projects his market value at nearly $8 million per year, a risky investment for a player entering his age-31 season.

Davenport, meanwhile, struggled to stay healthy once again. He appeared in only eight games and recorded just one sack. Even if he’s available on another low-cost deal, it’s hard to justify running it back after consecutive injury-filled seasons.

That’s where Hutchinson’s comments matter. Detroit already has several financial decisions looming, including extensions for Jahmyr Gibbs and Jack Campbell. The team may also look to protect itself long-term with Brian Branch after his Achilles injury, possibly through a short-term extension similar to what Green Bay did with Christian Watson.

Even with those commitments — and despite being roughly $8.5 million over the cap, according to OverTheCap — the Lions can’t afford to ignore their pass-rush deficiency.

While landing someone like Crosby or even Hendrickson may be unrealistic, Detroit still has options. Veterans such as Joey Bosa or Khalil Mack could offer more reliability if the price is right. If free agency proves too expensive, the draft provides another path, with prospects like Cashius Howell (Texas A&M), Akheem Mesidor (Miami), or Keldric Faulk (Auburn) potentially available when the Lions select 17th overall.

After a disappointing 9–8 campaign, Detroit needs to bounce back quickly. Strengthening the pass rush should be near the top of Brad Holmes’ to-do list. Whether voiced publicly or behind closed doors, Hutchinson’s comments may be the nudge the front office needs to make a meaningful upgrade — even if the Crosby dream remains just that.