First reported by NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and later confirmed by head coach Dan Campbell on Monday, Detroit Lions defensive end Marcus Davenport was officially placed on IR Tuesday. His left elbow/triceps injury is expected to sideline him for the season, leaving a void in the Lions' defensive front.
Replacing Davenport could just be done internally, with Campbell already prominently mentioning third-year man Josh Paschal. Some others (Levi Onwuzurike, James Houston; Isaac Ukwu or Mitchell Agude off the practice squad) could help too.
But it's also fair to assume the Lions have some eyes on who is or could be available. If not immediately, as they flesh out internal options, then potentially before the Nov. 5 trade deadline.
So let's explore some of those potential options, as in those the Lions could aggressively target on the trade market to replace Davenport. And no, Haason Reddick will not make the list.
5 edge rushers the Detroit Lions could aggressively target to replace Marcus Davenport
5. DeMarcus Lawrence, Dallas Cowboys
Let's start out a little bold.
Lawrence is in the final year of his contract, and even with a drop in sack numbers over recent years and at 32 years old he'll probably get one more pretty lucrative contract. It's also fair to assume Jerry Jones won't open up his pocket book too much for him, pleading poverty after giving Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb and eventually Micah Parsons big contracts.
Heading into Week 4, upon offering solutions to every team's needs (real or perceived), Bleacher Report proposed Lawrence as a potential target for the Lions in 2025 free agency.
"While Lawrence's sack numbers have gone down in recent years, he's an edge-setter and plays the physical brand of football that Dan Campbell covets. The 32-year-old posted an elite 92.4 run-defense grade from Pro Football Focus last season, and he can still win as a pass-rusher with 48 total pressures in 2023."
The 1-2 Cowboys aren't likely to trade any notable players, even if things go bad from here over the next several weeks. But Lawrence would seem to be in a subset of player they'd be willing to move, possibly alone-older, final year of his contract, etc. If the Lions really dig deep to find potential options to replace Davenport, this could be one they unearth.
4. Jonathan Cooper, Denver Broncos
Cooper has followed his 8.5-sack, 72-total tackle breakout last season with three sacks early this season. He's Pro Football Focus' 37th-best edge defender through Week 3, with a top-15 run defense grade at the position (73.3).
The Broncos are going to carry another big dead money hit attached to Russell Wilson in 2025, with 36 players currently under contract for next year (according to Over The Cap). Among their current edge rushers, Baron Browning is also in a contract and it may come down to picking one or the other of him or Cooper.
Where the Broncos are, or will be, on the trade deadline seller scale is unclear. But Cooper could be pricing himself out them being able to retain him next March, so in that respect he'd be a tradeable asset. And with that, the Lions could come calling to see what it may take to get him.
3. Josh Uche, New England Patriots
Uche was easy to tab as a possible free agent target for the Lions before they signed Davenport in March. He went back to the Patriots on a one-year, $3 million deal, while apparently turning down multiple better offers. However loyalty and familiarity played into that decision can be appreciated.
Uche has continued to be used as a part-time player so far this season (67 snaps over three games). That said, his Pro Football Focus grades as a pass rusher (79.9) and run defender (69.5) are both top-25 among edge defenders thus far.
The 1-2 Patriots are in a reset/rebuild year in Year 1 post-Bill Belichick. So players who are in a contract year are potential trade targets for other teams. Uche, a University of Michigan product, could be on the Lions' radar to replace Davenport if they try to go the trade route to do it.
2. Maxx Crosby, Las Vegas Raiders
Trading for Crosby would be a dream of many, if not all, Lions' fans. He grew a Lions' fan in Michigan, and went to Eastern Michigan. During a March edition of his podcast "The Rush", he was asked what other team he'd want to play for if the Raiders were off the table.
“The Lions."
At the 2023 Pro Bowl Games, Crosby was captured talking to Penei Sewell about Dan Campbell and having grown up in Michigan as a Lions' fan.
But let's get down to the reality of making the trade for Crosby. The Raiders would rightfully have a high asking price, and Crosby is under contract through 2026. That said, Over The Cap shows no more guaranteed salary after this year.
Crosby would have to ask to be traded to be moved, at this year's trade deadline or ever. But is that out of the question if a current 1-2 record becomes worse? Would he specifically ask the Raiders to try to engage the Lions in trade talks? If the Lions are going to be particularly aggressive to replace Davenport, which feels unlikely but not impossible, that idea starts here.
1. Trey Hendrickson, Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals are 0-3, and history says you're not making the playoffs after that start. Since 1980, six teams that started 0-3 have made the playoffs. One team has done it this century (the 2018 Houston Texans).
This side of Joe Burrow, the Bengals have hesitated to give anyone a lucrative long-term contract. Owner Mike Brown is notably behind the times, and stingy. d
With two years left on his contact, Hendrickson asked for a trade back in April before deciding to put the request aside and show up to the offseason program, etc. But it does seem like the Bengals have no real intention of extending him beyond 2025, especially if he produces this season like he has. He has three sacks over the first three games, after posting 17.5 sacks last season. In three of the last four full seasons, he has had at least 13.5 sacks. In the lone exception, 2022 (eight sacks), he was Pro Football Focus' 15th highest-graded edge defender.
Hendrickson also has some history with the Lions' coaching staff. He played for the New Orleans Saints from 2017-2020, overlapping with Dan Campbell and Aaron Glenn there. In his final season in New Orleans, he became the pass rusher he is now with 13.5 sacks.
Hendrickson will turn 30 in December, which may further bolster the idea the Bengals would listen to trade offers no matter where their season goes from here. He has cap hits of $20.17 million this year and $18.7 million next year, which the Lions can make work before more significant cap numbers start to hit their books.
The idea of trading for Hendrickson, as with anyone else on this list, has to mention cost. A second or third-round pick is probably a starting point, with an extra pick possibly required with multiple suitors presumed if Hendrickson were available.
But the fit looks great, and Hendrickson is shaping up as the most ideal replacement for Davenport if the Lions move aggressively to fill the void.