The Detroit Lions have reportedly inquired about Cincinnati Bengals star Trey Hendrickson, who doesn't seem to be on the move. The Miami Dolphins' Jaelan Phillips has been identified as a logical target, though he's headed to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Whether it's Hendrickson or someone else, the takeaway remains the same: the Lions need to bolster their pass-rushing unit. With that in mind, what if we told an intriguing alternative target may have just emerged ahead of the NFL's Nov. 4 trade deadline?
Seattle Seahawks standout edge defender Boye Mafe has been garnering interest from rival clubs (h/t Adam Schefter of ESPN). His name may not carry as much weight as Hendrickson's, but he's an impactful contributor. The former's lack of public notoriety can work in Detroit's favor, presenting an opportunity to make an under-the-radar move.
Latest Boye Mafe-Seahawks rumors just opened a door the Lions cannot ignore
A bevy of young talent due for paydays in Seattle has other teams of the mindset that Mafe (and cornerback Riq Woolen) might be expendable. The organizational juxtaposition gives the Lions a prime chance to bring in an athletic, relentless player to bookend recently handsomely paid franchise cornerstone Aidan Hutchinson.
Mafe's one of the league's better young pass rushers, demonstrated by a solid 72.5 Pro Football Focus grade in said situations. For context, that ranks 36th out of 120 qualified options at his position.
While Mafe has yet to record a sack through seven games in 2025, his résumé speaks volumes, posting 15 combined across the past two campaigns. Nevertheless, he's still causing disruption, evidenced by 21 total pressures and 19 hurries. Putting him opposite Hutchinson in a fierce Lions front seven is an ideal elixir to the raw counting stats, or lack thereof.
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Currently playing out the final season of his rookie deal, Mafe could be merely a rental for the Lions (or any prospective suitor). Yet, he turns 27 in late November and has a strong pedigree and track record of success. Landing him can serve as an early recruiting pitch rather than waiting until free agency to negotiate.
Detroit is dead last in ESPN's pass rush win rate entering the Week 9 Sunday slate of contests. Not having key defensive linemen, like Alim McNeill and Marcus Davenport, for much of the year has certainly been a factor. Yet, that doesn't change that adding someone to pair with Hutchinson should be atop the Lions' to-do list in the coming days.