The Detroit Lions entered this season widely viewed as a team likely to make a splashy move before the NFL trade deadline, but ultimately stood pat. Last year, the defense struggled to generate pressure after Aidan Hutchinson went down, and the offseason departures of Za’Darius Smith — first to free agency and then to retirement — along with Marcus Davenport’s early injury in Week 2, suggested the Lions might again lack consistent edge pressure in 2025.
That hasn’t happened. Detroit has received unexpectedly strong production from several unlikely contributors. Still, there is no guarantee those same surprises will carry over into next year. With that in mind, Bleacher Report’s Alex Kay floated a bold trade idea on November 18: Detroit would send its 2026 and 2027 first-rounders, a 2026 second-round pick, a 2027 third, and a 2026 fourth to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for star edge rusher Myles Garrett.
Landing Garrett would give the Lions the kind of elite defensive presence that could push them firmly into the Super Bowl–favorite conversation.
Detroit already boasts one of the NFL’s most disruptive pass-rush units, having totaled 31 sacks and holding opposing quarterbacks to just 192.1 passing yards per game. Those numbers are impressive, but pairing Garrett with Hutchinson would likely elevate the Lions’ pass rush into the league’s top tier.
Garrett + Hutchinson: Potentially the League’s Premier Edge Tandem
Garrett recently signed a four-year, $160 million contract extension that runs through 2030, which would allow the Lions to keep him alongside Hutchinson — who signed his own four-year, $180 million extension — for the long term.
Committing that much money to two edge defenders is a massive investment, but it could also give Detroit the best pass-rushing duo in football for several seasons. Garrett leads the league with 22 tackles for loss and 15 sacks through Week 11, and has already amassed 117.5 sacks across nine seasons.
Hutchinson, meanwhile, opened the 2024 campaign on pace to challenge the single-season sack record with 7.5 sacks in his first five games before suffering a broken leg in Week 5. Despite missing time, he still has 7.5 sacks in 10 appearances this year and leads the league with four forced fumbles.
Behind them, veteran depth pieces have stepped up in surprising ways. Al-Quadin Muhammad has recorded six sacks in a contract year, while linebackers Jack Campbell and Derrick Barnes have each added four. Campbell leads Detroit in sacks, though several teammates are close behind.
Muhammad’s breakout comes as he enters free agency, and relying heavily on sacks from linebackers can be volatile, making long-term production uncertain.
Detroit has been a legitimate championship contender for the past two seasons and is tracking toward another postseason berth this year despite a slight step back in overall record. With their competitive window already stretching across three years — longer than most teams manage — making an aggressive move for a defensive superstar like Garrett could solidify a dominant identity on that side of the ball and maximize their chances at a title.
