As we saw in the 2024 playoff loss to the Washington Commanders last season, the Detroit Lions’ defense remains one of the biggest concerns the team has ahead of another season in which the Lions have Super Bowl aspirations.
General manager Brad Holmes has done a great job beefing up the secondary with the signings of D.J. Reed, who replaces Carlton Davis, and Rock Ya-Sin and Avonte Maddox.
However, Holmes has yet to adequately addresses the edge rusher group, which was in need of more help even before the team cut Za’Darius Smith.
The Lions have Aidan Hutchinson, who is a superstar, and the team brought Marcus Davenport back, but he’s too injury-prone to rely on for any semblance of a big role and is just a depth piece at this point.
Knowing that, Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton proposes a trade between the Lions and Philadelphia Eagles that would send edge rusher Bryce Huff to Detroit for a 2025 fourth-round pick and a 2025 seventh-round selection.
The Lions don’t have a reliable edge-rusher other than Aidan Hutchinson. They haven’t re-signed Za’Darius Smith, and 2022 second-rounder Josh Paschal hasn’t panned out. Marcus Davenport re-signed with the team, but he’s played in just six games over the last two years because of injuries. Huff could carve out a starting role opposite Hutchinson on the defensive line in Detroit.
Signed to a three-year, $51 million deal, Huff has been a major disappointment so far in Philly. He missed five games due to injury in 2024 and played sparingly when he was on the field. He ultimately finished with just 2.5 sacks
The Eagles have already seen one of their key edge rushers walk in free agency in Josh Sweat, so general manager Howie Roseman might be hesitant to move Huff. However, it’s not crazy to think the Eagles may want to unload that contract.
While Huff’s contract looks like an albatross, a closer look reveals he has no money guaranteed on the deal after this coming season. So, if he continues to disappoint, the Lions would be able to cut him loose without much pain.
Moton’s compensation proposal isn’t outlandish, but we don’t think the Eagles will get two picks. Instead, we could see Philly nabbing a fourth- or fifth-rounder in a deal for the 26-year-old pass-rusher.
There is certainly some risk involved in acquiring Huff, but if he can return to the 10-sack form we saw in 2023 with the New York Jets, or even something close to that, Huff would amount to an upgrade for Detroit and could provide the solution opposite Hutchinson that the Lions need.
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