New York Giants pass rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux.
If the Detroit Lions find a trade for superstar pass rusher Trey Hendrickson too impractical, they might have a potential “consolation prize” to consider instead.
Bleacher Report’s Brad Gagnon recently made some early and bold predictions about which deals will go down at the 2025 NFL trade deadline based on current situations, including one in which the Green Bay Packers acquire Hendrickson from Cincinnati.
Gagnon argued the Packers are better suited than the Lions to trade for Hendrickson because they have “more of a need” at pass rusher, which could become more evident by the midpoint in the regular season and motivate them to make a blockbuster deal.
The Lions are also prioritizing the signing of Aidan Hutchinson, their own star pass rusher, heading into the 2025 season, making a Hendrickson deal much less likely.
Alternatively, though, he predicted the Lions will cut a deal with the New York Giants to acquire pass rusher and former No. 5 overall pick Kayvon Thibodeaux at the deadline.
“Thibodeaux is the consolation prize because he’s not close to as established as Hendrickson,” Gagnon wrote on June 18. “The Lions have more money to spend than the [Washington] Commanders and may feel the need to at least outbid them here to keep up with the Joneses in the NFC North.”
Kavyon Thibodeaux Could Bolster Lions’ Pass Rush
While Hendrickson is the undeniable big fish for teams looking to trade for another pass rusher, the Lions would still gain a meaningful piece if they added Thibodeaux.
Thibodeaux has not quite lived up to his status as a top-five draft selection, especially in terms of availability, but he has still logged 21 sacks and 127 total tackles in 43 starts for the Giants over the past three seasons. He achieved a career-high of 11.5 sacks in 2023, the only time in his career that he has played all 17 games without an injury absence.
The Lions would be right to have concerns about his health, but the upside of pairing him with Hutchinson might be enough for them to overlook his eight missed games.
Thibodeaux is also reasonably affordable for the next two seasons. If the Lions added him at the deadline, they would be responsible for paying less than $5 million to him in 2025. The Giants have already picked up Thibodeaux’s $14.75 million fifth-year option for 2026, but the Lions can afford that, too — if he were to produce for them in 2025.
The Lions would still need to make sure the risks are worth taking with Thibodeaux, but a trade for him could turn out to be a steal if he ascends. He is still just 24, after all.
Should Lions Target Free-Agent Pass Rushers Instead?
While the Lions could wait until the trade deadline to add another pass rusher and hope the right value emerges, they could still explore available free agents before the season.
Coming out of OTAs, veterans Von Miller, Preston Smith and Matt Judon are three of the top unsigned pass rushers on the market. Miller, a two-time Super Bowl champion, is the most appealing of the bunch after recording six sacks in 13 games for the Buffalo Bills in 2024; however, injuries remain a moderate concern for the 36-year-old.
The Lions could also consider re-signing veteran Za’Darius Smith. He logged four sacks and 10 quarterback hits in eight games for them in 2024 after they acquired him from the Cleveland Browns at the trade deadline. Smith also recently told USA Today’s Tyler Dragon that he wants to play for Detroit again during the 2025 season.
The Lions wouldn’t find long-term solutions in any of the four free agents, but signing one of them would provide a nice boost in terms of playing experience and leadership.
