Since the Detroit Lions were eliminated from the 2024 NFL playoffs much earlier than expected, fans of the team have been hoping they would make a splash this offseason to improve the roster.
It didn’t take long for a splash option to present itself.
Myles Garrett requested to be traded by the Cleveland Browns and he would certainly fill a need for the Lions in their pass rush.
Now it seems the potential blockbuster can be just about ruled out.
During his press conference at the NFL Combine, Lions GM Brad Holmes spoke about how difficult it is to add a star edge rusher, especially with the organization starting to work on an extension for Aidan Hutchinson.
When he was asked if the team could afford another star edge rusher, Holmes said, “Probably not.”
That also wasn’t the only statement at the Combine that makes a move seem very unlikely. Browns GM Andrew Berry was asked about Garrett’s trade request and made it clear his intention is not to trade the team’s biggest star.
Browns GM Andrew Berry reiterates that his stance has not changed amid Myles Garrett’s trade request pic.twitter.com/8nJpk1JTFu
— Daniel Oyefusi (@DanielOyefusi) February 25, 2025
I understand the trade request and everything, but our stance really has not changed. We can’t imagine a situation where not having Myles as a part of the organization is best for the Browns.
Luckily for Lions fans, Garrett is far from the only viable pass rusher out there the team could add this offseason.
He is obviously the best of them, but this year’s free agent and draft classes are loaded with talent on the edge.
They will definitely need to grab one of those available edge rushers as an upgrade, but who that player is will depend on what the Lions feel they can afford to invest in the position.
Once the Lions work out extensions for Hutchinson and Kerby Joseph, we should have a much clearer picture of what their cap situation will look like to potentially add free agents.
Until they get that part figured out, it seems all we know is that the Lions aren’t going to be throwing around Defensive Player of the Year money for a second edge rusher when they’ll likely have to do so for Hutchinson.
