5 other potential trade targets for Detroit Lions to replace Aidan Hutchinson

The Detroit Lions may not be inclined to make a big move to replace the injured Aidan Hutchinson, as they instead are more inclined to see who can step up internally or make lower-end moves in these early stages with about three weeks to go before the trade deadline.

But general manager Brad Holmes is surely surveying options, and making calls where he deems appropriate. Replacing Hutchinson is next to impossible, but Holmes would not be doing his job if he wasn't turning over every stone possible. He can set what he would give up for someone, and if it's not enough to get someone; move on to other options.

With other options in mind, here are five more possible trade targets as the Lions look at options to replace Hutchinson.

5 other edge rushers the Detroit Lions could target to replace Aidan Hutchinson

5. Jadeveon Clowney, Carolina Panthers

Clowney made our first list of potential options to add when the Lions lost Marcus Davenport, and he makes plenty of sense here with Hutchinson out for the season.

Other than the home area angle (he's from South Carolina), and perhaps a lack of other suitable options, it never made much sense that the 31-year old Clowney signed with the Panthers. Their season as gone exactly as expected with a 1-5 record, so it would make sense to trade older players.

Last season with the Baltimore Ravens, Clowney had 9.5 sacks and 78 pressures while playing all 17 games. He has one sack and 14 pressures in five games so far this season, with a top-35 run defense grade among edge defenders (68.0) from Pro Football Focus.

Clowney signed a two-year deal with the Panthers last offseason. So he could be more than a rental, but also not a contractual albatross with just $2 million in fully guaranteed salary in 2025. The Panthers are a clear seller, so the Lions may have already made a call here.

4. Emmanuel Ogbah, Miami Dolphins

The 31-year old Ogbah a couple of years removed from his best seasons. After a season-ending triceps injury in 2022, he was more of a depth piece for Miami last season (one start, 5.5 sacks, 20 total pressures). He is off to a solid start this year back in a starting role though, with two sacks and 10 pressures over five games with a top-50 PFF run defense among edge defenders (208 snaps).

The direction the Dolphins season' goes hangs on the health of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa as he works his way back from another concussion. But Ogbah may welcome the chance to be a on a team that can win the Super Bowl this year (the Dolphins are not in that conversation, even if Tagovailoa is and stays healthy), and he's got one ring from his time with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Ogbah is also not likely to cost much (a Day 3 draft pick?, with conditions?), which would seem to further put him right in the Lions' wheelhouse.

3. Josh Hines-Allen, Jacksonville Jaguars

ESPN's Dan Orlovsky called for the Lions to be aggressive in their effort to replace Hutchinson, mentioning Maxx Crosby and another guy on this list by name. Then he added Hines-Allen to his list.

"I think you could call the (Jacksonville) Jaguars for Josh Hines-Allen."

As Jaguars' edge rushers go, Travon Walker has been easier to offer as a potential trade target for the Lions (before and after Hutchinson's injury). But it's also been hard to see them giving up on the No. 1 pick in the 2022 draft (one pick ahead of Hutchinson, of course).

The Jaguars franchise-tagged Hines-Allen in March, then they signed him to a five-year, $141.25 million deal. So even as their season goes downhill, and as changes seem to be coming after the season, he is surely seen as a core piece of the future.

It's unlikely Orlovsky is working with any specific inside information in his mention of Hines-Allen as someone the Lions could call about. It was simply within his premise that they should be aggressive to replace Hutchinson, and maybe the Jaguars would listen. There's a non-zero percent chance they would.

2. Cameron Jordan, New Orleans Saints

The 2-4 Saints are on the border of being a trade deadline seller or not, but with quarterback Derek Carr set to miss some more time they could move off that fence and become a seller. Colton Pouncy of The Athletic outlined two Saints (Carl Granderson and Chase Young) in his look at possible trade targets to replace Hutchinson, but he finished his thoughts with this:

"While we’re on the topic of Saints: Is Cam Jordan available?"

Jordan has spent his entire 14-year career with the Saints. At 35 years old he's also not nearly the player he was in his prime (two sacks in 2023, none so far this year; with 11 pressures in six games). He is under contract for one more season beyond this year.

Jordan has a New Orleans connection with Dan Campbell and Aaron Glenn, who of course were on Sean Payton's staff there for five years (2016-2020). He also probably wouldn't cost a lot, and he may welcome the opportunity to chase a ring in Detroit. In terms of a culture fit, Jordan would be at or near the top of the list of options to replace Hutchinson in that respect.

1. Myles Garrett, Cleveland Browns

With the trade of wide receiver Amani Cooper to the Buffalo Bills on Tuesday, the fire sale may be on in Cleveland as they continue to commit to Deshaun Watson as their starting quarterback

Garrett feels unreachable as a trade target for the Lions as they look to realstically replace Hutchinson. But his contract (through 2026) is not bad for someone of his caliber, and as Mike Valenti of 97.1 The Ticket opined- if it takes a first-round pick to get him, the Lions are expected to have a late first-rounder for the next couple years anyway. In terms of being aggressive to replace Hutchinson, Garrett is next to Maxx Crosby atop any appropriate list of options.

Fellow Browns' edge rusher Za'Darius Smith feels like a far more viable trade target for the Lions. But if Holmes is going to call Cleveland anyway about Smith (he should, if he hasn't already), why not ask what it might take to get Garrett? Fortune favors the bold, and the worst thing Browns general manager Andrew Berry can say is he's not trading the reigning Defensive Player of the Year.