Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell speaks to members of the media at the Detroit Lions practice facility in Allen Park on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, following his team’s NFC divisional playoff loss.

Detroit Lions Linked to Huge Trade That Could Finalize Super Bowl Run

Originally posted on Gridiron Heroics | By Evan Massey | Last updated Sep 6, 2025 6:18 PM ET

Heading into the 2025 NFL season, Dan Campbell and the Detroit Lions are widely viewed as a top Super Bowl contender. After being the best team in the NFL during the regular season last year, the Lions fell apart and lost their first playoff matchup against the Washington Commanders.

They have had to sit with that loss throughout the entire offseason. To say that they’re ready to get back on the field on Sunday afternoon against the Green Bay Packers would be an understatement.

With that being said, there are still some questions that Detroit needs to answer. There are a couple of issues that could hamper the Lions from reaching their ultimate goal of winning a championship.

One of those areas of need comes in the pass rush. Aidan Hutchinson is back, but the team could use more help for him. To that end, a trade idea has been suggested that could be the final piece to their Super Bowl puzzle.

Detroit Lions Linked to Huge Trade That Could Finalize Super Bowl Run

Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report has suggested a massive trade idea for Detroit. He believes that New York Giants’ star pass rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux could be a potential fit.

“Thibodeaux should command a strong offer, but he’d provide much more value than Neal. He hasn’t quite been the game-wrecker New York thought it was getting at fifth overall in 2022. However, he’s still a 24-year-old edge-rusher who has averaged seven sacks per season and is under contract for two more years.”

As for what Knox believes it would take for a team to acquire Thibodeaux? He suggested a 2026 second-round pick.

If that is indeed the price tag for the 24-year-old pass rusher, the Lions should jump at pursuing him.

During the 2024 NFL season with the Giants, Thibodeaux played in 12 games. He racked up 28 tackles, 5.5 sacks, a forced fumble, and two defended passes. In his three total years and 43 games, he has recorded 127 tackles, 21 sacks, six forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, and 11 defended passes.

Will Detroit pursue a trade for Thibodeaux? There is no way to know. Despite that fact, Knox is right that the Lions would make an awful lot of sense as a potential trade destination for him.

This article first appeared on Gridiron Heroics and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: