Lions Named a Potential Post-Draft Suitor for $21 Million All-Pro Who Has Been at the Center of Trade Speculation for Months

As a result, Bleacher Report's Kristopher Knox included Hendrickson on the post-draft trade block in a recent article and named the Lions as a potential suitor.

This would be the dream move for Lions fans who have waited patiently for the team to make a move for an edge rusher.

It doesn't get much better than Hendrickson.

He has racked up 17.5 sacks in each of the last two seasons on his way to being voted into the Pro Bowl in each season.

In 2024, he led all edge rushers with 83 total pressures according to Pro Football Focus. His dominance earned him All-Pro honors for the first time in his career and second place in the Defensive Player of the Year voting.

There's just one big problem.

He makes a lot of money and is looking to get paid even more.

Hendrickson has one year left on his contract that is worth $21 million and carries an $18.7 million cap hit.

He's currently looking for a contract extension and it's going to be an expensive one. 

Maxx Crosby and Myles Garrett reset the edge market this offseason. Crosby's extension will pay him $35.5 million per year. Garrett's is worth $40 million per year.

Hendrickson shouldn't be far off of those two.

Meanwhile, the Lions apparently couldn't afford Za'Darius Smith.

They may feel Hendrickson is more worth the investment, but he'd also be a whole lot more difficult to afford.

Hendrickson could be the missing piece for the Lions as they chose their first Super Bowl, but it just feels very unlikely the team would actually make this move happen.