Dan Campbell and the Detroit Lions enter the 2025 NFL season as one of the most highly regarded teams in the league. They wrapped up last year as the top regular-season team in football.

Despite that regular-season dominance, the Lions failed to win a playoff game. Their postseason ended abruptly with a loss to the Washington Commanders. Now, they head into the new season with unfinished goals.

As training camp approaches, Detroit is seen as a franchise that could pursue a major addition on defense before Week 1.

Aidan Hutchinson suffered a broken leg last season, and while the team traded for Za’Darius Smith at the deadline, he was released during the offseason and remains unsigned.

Now, speculation is growing around a bold trade that could bring in a top-tier edge rusher ahead of the season opener.

Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton proposed a blockbuster trade idea between the Lions and Cincinnati Bengals involving veteran rusher Trey Hendrickson.

“The Bengals might hesitate to commit major money to a 30-year-old edge rusher approaching his age-31 season,” Moton noted. “With the right offer, they’d likely consider a trade.”

Moton believes Detroit should send a 2026 second-round and fifth-round pick to land Hendrickson in an aggressive win-now move.

Coming off back-to-back seasons with 17.5 sacks, Hendrickson also had 46 tackles, two forced fumbles, and six pass breakups in 17 games. He would raise Detroit’s Super Bowl ceiling significantly.

If Hendrickson is available for a second and fifth, Detroit should not hesitate. Pairing him with Hutchinson would create a dominant pass rush tandem few teams could match.

Even though such a trade remains unlikely, it’s a move that fits Detroit’s timeline and ambition.