Last week, Detroit Lions standout pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson announced he’s fully recovered and ready for OTAs. This update is exactly what Lions supporters hoped for after his frightening leg injury last season.

His return will significantly boost Detroit’s defensive front in pressuring opposing quarterbacks. However, the team just missed a golden chance to add talent across from Hutchinson via a trade.

Per Adam Schefter, the Philadelphia Eagles agreed to send edge rusher Bryce Huff to the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for a mid-round draft pick. Seeing Huff join San Francisco stings Lions fans for two reasons—the teams’ recent rivalry and Detroit’s need for an additional edge rusher.

In the 2024 offseason, Philadelphia inked Huff to a three-year, $51.1 million contract. That deal followed a breakout campaign with the Jets, where Huff totaled 29 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, 67 pressures, 12 QB hits, and 45 hurries. Despite high hopes, the 26-year-old didn’t meet expectations during his first year as an Eagle.

Huff ended 2024 with just 13 tackles, 20 quarterback pressures, 17 hurries, three tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, and a single QB hit. Though he was brought in as a major addition, he didn’t produce even at a rotational level. That decline, plus missing the start of OTAs, prompted the trade.

With that context, the Lions clearly missed a real shot. Though Huff still carried a $34 million bill, the 49ers managed to adjust the deal. Detroit should have been actively calling the Eagles to pursue Hutchinson’s much-needed pass-rushing partner.

Huff’s 2024 numbers were disappointing, but working alongside Hutchinson might have sparked a return to his 2023 impact. Still, a likely reason Huff landed in San Francisco was the chance to reunite with defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, who helped shape his early NFL success in New York.