Close your eyes for just a moment.
Now, imagine a world where Aidan Hutchinson isn't chipped on every pash rush attempt. Where, begrudgingly, opponents couldn't just double or triple team him in coverage, because he actually had help on the defensive line at the EDGE.
A better world is possible. Unlikely, but possible. At least, that's what Just Blog Baby's Levi Dombro seems to think about a potential trade that would send Michigan-native Maxx Crosby to the Detroit Linos for a boatload of draft picks as compensation.
This Maxx Crosby-Lions trade could change everything for Detroit
According to Dombro and Bleacher Report's Kristopher Knox, one trade proposal that the Raiders would be silly to turn a blind eye to includes:
Lions 2026 1st round pick
Lions 2027 1st-Round Pick
Lions 2026 5th-Round Pick
Lions 2027 4th-Round Pick
All this, in exchange for Crosby. Dombro writes:
"Collecting two future first-rounders seems like the baseline for Crosby, but the Raiders getting two premier Day 3 picks is a nice added benefit. If the Raiders turn Crosby's 2026 salary into a signing bonus, they could maybe even force the Lions' hand and pry a third-rounder from them."
"Detroit desperately needs to add pass-rush help opposite Aidan Hutchinson with Al-Quadin Muhammad, and they are firmly in a championship window. Adding Crosby could be the missing piece for their defense, which needs talent and reliability at all three levels."
Crosby is a bit of a pie in the sky talent for the Lions to consider trading for, especially with the cap limitations they find themselves needing to navigate for the next several years. Trading for Crosby would guarantee that they're locked into their current roster through at least 2027 or 2028, with hopes that the team would've gotten a Super Bowl championship by then.
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Detroit desperately needs to get creative with how they land another star opposite Hutchinson this offseason, but truthfully, it doesn't sound like Holmes is interested in going star-hunting unless a suitable deal falls into his lap. From his end-of-year press conference:
"It'll be the same approach that we took last year in terms of...the position wasn't ignored in the draft, it just doesn't come together how we would've liked it to be. But, Muhammad played really, really well. I'm not sure how many other teams had an 11 sack and a 14.5 sack guy. He's a free agent, Davenport is a free agent, so we're going to have to replenish around Hutch, for sure."
It'd be fun to see the Lions get uber-aggressive in their pursuit of another pass rushing weapon next to Hutchinson this offseason, since they keep trying to plug that hole with risky options like Al-Quadin Muhammad (who panned out, but is a free agent) and Marcus Davenport (who did not pan out, and is also a free agent).
Fans would love it, although the side-effect being that the team is without any sort of spending room for the rest of their needs on the offensive line could be killer. But, the last time Holmes even made a huge-swing trade to this effect was the trade for Jared Goff, and that was mostly helped along by the fact that it greatly helped Detroit to establish their current star foundation.
Detroit was one of the slowest teams to get to the quarterback in 2025 despite Hutchinson and Muhammad having great years. Adding Crosby fixes that immediately, assuming he can stay healthy. But, giving up so much draft compensation for that "if" just doesn't seem to be in Holmes' diet.