Lions Oust Justin Jefferson, Land Pro Bowl Edge in Wild Trade Proposal

Lions Sweeten Trade Proposal That Lands Trey Hendrickson While Vikings Lose Justin Jefferson

The Cincinnati Bengals reaching new deals with receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins this summer has left Hendrickson the odd man out in extension talks.

Coming off back-to-back 17.5-sack seasons and second-place in Defensive Player of the Year voting, Hendrickson skipped minicamps in June and appears adamant on holding his position until his terms are met or if he is traded. That’s made him a quiet trade chip of a potential mega-deal that would reunite Jefferson with LSU teammates Joe Burrow and Chase.

To execute this deal that would also include the Cleveland Browns, the Lions would play mediator, giving the Browns a fourth-round pick to send the Minnesota Vikings cornerback Greg Newsome. Minnesota would also receive a third-round pick from Detroit.

From Benjamin:

Bengals get: WR Justin Jefferson (Vikings), DE Julian Okwara (Browns)
Vikings get: WR Tee Higgins (Bengals), CB Greg Newsome II (Browns), 2026 first-round pick (Bengals), 2026 third-round pick (Lions)
Lions get: EDGE Trey Hendrickson (Bengals)
Browns get: 2026 fourth-round pick (Lions)

This might be the most outlandish of the bunch, if only because Jefferson is as close to untouchable as anyone in the NFL. The Vikings have rightly and swiftly extinguished any and all speculation regarding the wideout’s trade availability in the past, and “Jets” has done the same.

But the one place he might be OK moving is Cincinnati, for the chance at reuniting with former LSU stars Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase. The Bengals, meanwhile, have expensive trade chips of their own in Higgins and Hendrickson, the latter of whom has been angling for a pay raise — or move out of town — for years.

Can you imagine Burrow’s delight if given the chance to capitalize on a title window with the two best pass catchers in the game? And can you imagine Detroit’s satisfaction if it can pull Hendrickson from the deal, pairing the Pro Bowler with Aidan Hutchinson after trying but failing to trade up for pass rushing help this spring?

Lions Have Little Draft Capital to Spend

While Smith would be a more affordable option, the Lions are in a win-now window with Jared Goff and can’t afford to be spendthrift while chasing a championship.

However, a trade for Hendrickson, which could be manageable given a trade suitor would have to extend him as well, could be hard for Detroit to pull off.

The Lions traded a 2025 third-round pick and two 2026 third-round picks to move up 30 spots to land receiver Isaac TeSlaa.

Detroit still has picks in the first, second, fourth, fifth and seventh rounds and potential sixth- and seventh-round picks in tow as well.