The Detroit Lions are looking for ways to improve their defense this offseason, and another intriguing possibility may have fallen into their lap.
Cincinnati Bengals star Trey Hendrickson was granted permission to seek a trade, and his presence immediately shakes up the defensive market ahead of the free agency period. But what would the cost be to add a stud like Hendrickson to Detroit's line?
CBS Sports NFL insider Jonathan Jones shed light on that immediately after Hendrickson was revealed to be hitting the market. Joining "CBS Sports HQ," Jones revealed that Hendrickson isn't likely to break the bank for a team.
"In terms of trade compensation to secure Trey Hendrickson, (I) talked to a couple of executives via text earlier. It actually came back almost unanimous where it would be the Khalil Mack trade," said Jones. "Go back to when Khalil Mack was dealt to the (Los Angeles) Chargers. Really, it was about a second-round pick."
Jones then adds that due to Hendrickson needing a new deal, the Bengals may have to settle for a "high three."
For the Lions, this news seems too good to be true. Securing Hendrickson for the cost of a third-round pick would be an obvious way to patch one of the biggest holes the franchise has before the 2025 season.
Trey Hendrickson represents ideal win-now pass-rush move for Detroit Lions
Obviously, the Lions would have loved to deal for Myles Garrett, and they maintained interest in the Cleveland Browns' star this offseason. Cleveland, though, signed Garrett to a massive contract extension to end that conversation.
Harold Landry is also off the board after he signed with the New England Patriots. The Lions could also choose to sign a top free agent like Josh Sweat, gamble on the health of Joey Bosa, or sign a veteran like Khalil Mack.
While there is risk in those moves, Hendrickson represents a slam dunk. At age 30, he fits the win-now mode of the Lions perfectly. If the team could sign him to a fair two- or three-year extension after dealing a third-round pick, it could allow them to maximize their championship window.
Hendrickson quietly led the NFL in 2024 with 17.5 sacks. Pairing him with Aiden Hutchinson could help form the scariest pass-rush duo in the league. Unlike Garrett, the cost for Hendrickson won't be astronomical, allowing the Lions freedom to continue to build through the draft.
Truthfully, if the cost is indeed a third-round pick, it's a no-brainer for the Lions to call the Bengals for Hendrickson. It could be the savviest way for the franchise to improve their pass rush for the near future.