5 edge rushers Detroit Lions could trade for to replace Aidan Hutchinson
It was a great day for the Detroit Lions in Dallas on Sunday, with a 47-9 demolishing of the Cowboys, except for one very significant thing. Star defensive end Aidan Hutchinson suffered a gruesome left leg injury early in the third quarter, and he's done for the season.
Injury update: Lions DE Aidan Hutchinson underwent immediate surgery at a Dallas-area hospital for what the team is now calling a broken tibia.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 14, 2024
The #Lions say Aidan Hutchinson had immediate surgery on the injury. https://t.co/xk42uFXYDx
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) October 14, 2024
Lions general manager Brad Holmes seems loathe to going "all-in" with a trade that would mean parting with notable draft capital. Lest the culture the Lions have built be upset by someone who doesn't fit. There's nothing wrong with that idea, generally.
But if replacing one of the best pass rushers in the league, in the middle of a season where there's a legit chance to win the Super Bowl, isn't the right moment to get aggressive before the Nov. 5 trade deadline, there will never be an appropriate moment to do so.
So with that in mind, here are five edge rushers the Lions could (should?) try to trade for as they figure out how they'll replace Hutchinson.
5 edge rushers the Lions could trade for to try to replace Aidan Hutchinson
5. Josh Uche, New England Patriots
Uche made our list of potential options for the Lions to trade for after Marcus Davenport was injured in Week 3, so he makes it here now with the Patriots falling to 1-5 on Sunday and rookie Drake Maye set to start under center for the rest of the season.
The University of Michigan product has been a part time player again for New England this season (131 snaps over the first five games), but he has two sacks (through Week 6), 12 quarterback pressures (according to Pro Football Focus, over the first five games) and the 22nd-best PFF pass rushing grade (72.9) among edge rushers entering Week 5.
Uche signed a one-year, $3 million deal to go back to the Patriots in March, reportedly choosing that over better offers that he had out there in free agency. It also makes him a cheap remaining salary for the Lions to take on in a trade, while getting a look at him as someone they could sign as a free agent next March.