Lions Reporter Gives Update on Likelihood of Team Trading for Trey Hendrickson

Unfortunately for Lions fans, it seems it doesn't really matter whether or not Hendrickson will actually end up on the trade block.

The Detroit Free Press' Dave Birkett recently revealed the he hasn't gotten any indication the Lions will try to trade for Hendrickson and that all signs point to a move not happening.

I haven't gotten any indication the Lions are serious players to add Hendrickson. In fact, all signs point to the opposite. Hendrickson wants a contract that makes him one of the highest-paid edge rushers in the NFL, and that price point – $35 million annually? – doesn't jibe with how the Lions are operating financially.

This makes sense given what we already know about the Lions this offseason.

General manager Brad Holmes previously said the team couldn't afford to re-sign Za'Darius Smith.

If a team can't afford Smith then they really can't afford Hendrickson.

It's too bad. Hendrickson has had 17.5 sacks in each of the last two seasons and his 83 pressures were the most at his position in 2024. Pairing him with Aidan Hutchinson would give the Lions the NFL's most fearsome pass rush.

That could be the missing piece for a Super Bowl contender who already had the NFL's best offense in 2025.

It seems it's not to be, though, and Lions fans will have to just hope the organization is cooking up something that won't be so expensive.