NFL Trade Rumors: Lions to Seek DE Help After Hutchinson Injury; Crosby ‘Unrealistic’

Scott Polacek@@ScottPolacekFeatured Columnist IVOctober 14, 2024

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The Detroit Lions will reportedly look for defensive end depth after star pass-rusher Aidan Hutchinson suffered a broken tibia and fibula during Sunday’s win over the Dallas Cowboys, but don’t expect it to be a game-changing player like Maxx Crosby.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported as much Monday during an appearance on SportsCenter:

“The Lions will look to see what they can do, but my understanding is they’re not going to mortgage their future. To get an elite player like that, first of all, a team would have to be willing to part with them, which in all probability they’re not. And the Lions would have to come up with such a substantial, significant offer that it’s unrealistic to expect that they could trade for Maxx Crosby or Myles Garrett. They’re going to look to see if they can find some defensive help, but it will be somebody that steps in in a secondary role.”

The update comes after Lions head coach Dan Campbell told reporters Hutchinson is expected to miss four to six months.

“I would never count Hutch out. Ever,” he said. “So, probably a long road, but I would never count him out. I would say if anybody can make it back, it’d be him.”

The Lions also released a statement that said the 24-year-old underwent successful surgery and “is expected to make a full recovery. There is no timetable for his return to play at this time.”

It is a brutal setback for Detroit both because it is a realistic Super Bowl contender and he is the defensive leader who was in the middle of what looked to be a career season. The Michigan product had a league-best 7.5 sacks through five games and was on pace to blow past the 11.5 sacks he posted last year.

His setback is even more troubling for the Lions because Marcus Davenport is already sidelined with a torn triceps and may miss the rest of the campaign.

That leaves the combination of Levi Onwuzurike, Isaac Ukwu and Josh Paschal on the edge, which is not the most inspiring group of pass-rushers for a team eyeing the Lombardi Trophy. It comes as no surprise, then, that the front office would be interested in adding someone before the Nov. 5 trade deadline.

Marlowe Alter of the Detroit Free Press listed Crosby (Las Vegas Raiders), Haason Reddick (New York Jets), Trey Hendrickson (Cincinnati Bengals) and Von Miller (Buffalo Bills) as potential headline-name trade candidates.

Yet Schefter’s report suggesting the Lions aren’t looking to give up too much of their future assets in a deal means the NFC North team may focus on lesser-known targets. Alter also listed Emmanuel Ogbah (Miami Dolphins), Deatrich Wise Jr. (New England Patriots) and Jamin Davis (Washington Commanders) as possible options along those lines.

The front office’s decision will ultimately be an important one, as the Lions are 4-1 but could be in a battle all season to make the playoffs in their division.

Every team in the NFC North is 4-2 or better with the Minnesota Vikings leading the way at 5-0. Even a short losing streak could be the difference between first and last place in such a competitive division, so figuring out a way to quickly make up for some of the lost production from Hutchinson will be critical.