The Detroit Lions face a key summer, with general manager Brad Holmes looking to bolster a team that is one of the deepest in football yet fell short in the divisional round against the Washington Commanders.
Though the Lions’ season ended in disappointment and head coach Dan Campbell must replace both coordinators, since Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn were named head coaches this week, Detroit still has a very promising future.
Holmes has done an excellent job of strengthening the team through the draft and filling other voids in free agency, and one of his better draft decisions as Lions general manager came in 2022, when he picked edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson with the second overall pick.
Though Hutchinson only played five games in 2024 due to fracturing his tibia and fibula during the team’s Week 6 victory over the Dallas Cowboys, the former Michigan standout has established himself as one of football’s most dominant pass rushers and a franchise cornerstone for the Lions.
When healthy, Hutchinson is a game-changer with Hall-of-Fame potential, but Detroit could use another formidable defensive lineman to oppose the 24-year old. Though the Lions have much bigger needs and should aim to save draft cash, The Wright Way Network’s Daniel Alameda believes Holmes will make a blockbuster trade for Las Vegas Raiders edge rusher Maxx Crosby.
The Detroit Lions are in the process of transforming their team from a “Playoff Contender” to a Super Bowl contender. Outside of Aidan Hutchinson who got hurt this season, they need pass rush badly, hence their move to go and trade for Zadarius Smith. Smith has one more season with Detroit, which shows a long-term issue at the EDGE outside of Aidan.
He brings a gritty mentality that would fit in perfectly with Detroit’s culture, which has always prided itself on toughness and resilience.
The question is if the Lions would be willing to give up major assets for Crosby, and there is a world where they just trust Brad Holmes to keep drafting elite talent. On the flip side, the Lions organization is losing their two coordinators in Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn to head coaching gigs, so they know the urgency that must be attacked when it comes to their Super Bowl window. Pairing Crosby with Hutchinson immediately gives Detroit the best pass rushing duo in the NFL, and would help their Super Bowl Push immediately.
This trade has a low chance of happening for a variety of reasons. Crosby still has several years left on his big $94 million contract, and while the Lions have the cap space to cover his salary, the team still needs to work out an agreement with Hutchinson. Detroit is unlikely to be able to pay two pass rushers above-market salaries.
Furthermore, the Lions just acquired Za’Darius Smith at the 2024 trade deadline, and the veteran is under contract for another year. It would not be wise for Holmes to devote additional resources to the pass rush.
Though trade for Crosby will be difficult and unlikely to be financially feasible, there is no disputing that the Raiders standout would significantly improve Detroit’s pass rush. Crosby has been selected to four consecutive Pro Bowls and has had three seasons with double-digit sacks since joining the league in 2019.
The former Eastern Michigan standout’s future in Las Vegas is questionable, as he hinted at playing elsewhere on his podcast on January 8.
“Obviously, there are a lot of decisions to be made,” Crosby stated on his podcast lately. “On a personal level, I have to make the best option for myself. I’m going see. We’re not sure what the coach or front office will look like. There will be a lot of changes.
If Crosby is traded, Detroit will struggle to complete the blockbuster transaction, but there is always a chance.
