The Detroit Lions still lack a reliable bookend for Aidan Hutchinson, and the most obvious external fix is Trey Hendrickson, Cincinnati’s three-time Pro Bowl edge rusher. But landing him in 2025 now involves two steep price tags:
- Premium draft capital (think a first-rounder or a hefty Day-2 bundle).
- A new deal north of $30 million per year—because Hendrickson and his agent have already rebuffed the Bengals’ reported $28 million-AAV offer.
Below is a realistic breakdown of what that means for Detroit.
The Contract Factor: $30 – $35 Million AAV
| Contract Metric | Hendrickson’s Ask | Bengals’ Offer | Why It’s Realistic |
|---|---|---|---|
| AAV | $30–$35 M | ≈ $28 M | Three straight 12-plus-sack seasons put him in the same stratosphere as Nick Bosa ($34 M) and Brian Burns ($34 M). |
| Years | 3–4 new years | 3 years | Gives security through age 34 but lets a team escape before a full decline. |
| Guarantees | 60–65 % of total | Unknown | Edge-rusher market is pushing $70–80 M fully guaranteed for top tier. |
For Detroit: absorbing Hendrickson’s existing $15 M 2025 salary is just step one; an extension would likely kick in 2026 at $32-ish million. The Lions project roughly $30 M of 2025 cap room after rookie deals—enough to fit this year’s hit but not a mega-extension. They would need to:
- Push new money into 2026-27 with back-loaded cash/roster bonuses.
- Restructure a veteran or two in order to free $8-10 M.
Trade-Compensation Benchmarks with a New Deal Attached
| Comparable Edge (Year) | New AAV | Trade Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montez Sweat (2023) | $25 M | 2nd-round pick | Bears extended post-trade. |
| Bradley Chubb (2022) | $22 M | 1st + 4th + player | Dolphins extended immediately. |
| Frank Clark (2019) | $21 M | 1st + 2nd + swap | Chiefs extended immediately. |
Hendrickson’s higher price tag (and age 30 season) slots him between Sweat and Chubb in asset value. League sources suggest:
- Option A: 2026 first-round pick
- Option B: 2026 second- and third-round picks plus a conditional 2027 mid-rounder
Either way, Cincinnati gets premium draft slots to offset losing an elite pass rusher.
Lions’ Depth-Chart & Cap Snapshot If They Pull the Trigger
| LDE | DT | NT | RDE |
|---|---|---|---|
| A. Hutchinson | D. Reader | A. McNeill (following ACL return) | T. Hendrickson |
| M. Davenport | L. Onwuzurike | T. Williams (R1) | J. Paschal |
Cap math (2025):
- Hendrickson current hit: $15 M
- Re-structure/extension can keep 2025 number near $18 M with bonuses pushed out.
- Lions still have ~$12 M for in-season signings after a moderate restructure.
Why Cincinnati Might Listen—But Only for a Premium
- They’ve offered $28 M and haven’t budged; Hendrickson wants Bosa/Burns range.
- A 2026 first or a large Day-2 bundle aligns with the Bengals’ history of flipping vets for picks rather than paying third contracts.
- $15 M cash savings hits immediately, while prorated bonus ($6.3 M) stays on their books—manageable.
A 2025 Proposal That Fits the New Reality
Detroit receives
• EDGE Trey HendricksonCincinnati receives
• 2026 1st-round pick (DET)
• 2026 conditional 4th (escalates to 3rd if Hendrickson hits 12 sacks or Lions reach NFC title)
Detroit would then finalize a 4-year, $130 M extension (≈ $32.5 M AAV) with $70 M guaranteed, pushing much of the cash to 2027-28.
Bottom Line
Landing Trey Hendrickson in 2025 isn’t a “second-rounder and call it a day” scenario anymore. The going rate is a future first-round pick plus a monster extension in the $30-35 million range. It’s a true all-in swing—one Brad Holmes must weigh against Detroit’s long-term roster balance. But if the Lions believe an elite bookend is the missing Lombardi piece, this is the price of admission in today’s edge-rusher market. Personally, I don’t believe this is a move Holmes will entertain, but, if he does, then I trust in him!
