Trey Hendrickson is seeking a trade, and the Lions have the cap space and incentive to go get him. Question is, could Brad Holmes stomach the cost of letting some of their own players go?
Hendrickson, who leads the NFL with 35 sacks over the last two seasons, would command a new deal that would prevent the Lions from extending "somebody -- or somebodies -- down the line," says Jim Costa. All-Pro safety Kerby Joseph? Pro Bowl tight end Sam LaPorta? Blossoming wide receiver Jameson Williams? The list of potential cap casualties goes on.
Costa says he'd be willing to eventually lose both Joseph and LaPorta if it meant adding Hendrickson: "The idea is you have two safeties already, Kerby plays this year, the Hendrickson move would be for this year. You’d be all-in this year, and you’d rather pay an edge than a safety.
"I’d also be willing to not pay Sam LaPorta when it comes time to it. They were super productive before they drafted him. Remember that? Shane Zylstra and Brock Wright and they set the franchise record for most receiving TD's from the position. You want to tell me they can’t find a gritty Iowa tight end in the next two, three years here?"
Jansen says he'd hang onto LaPorta, but would be willing to part ways with these three players: "Kerby Joseph, thank you, bye-bye. David Montgomery, thank you, bye-bye. Jamo, thank you, good bye. I’m not willing to lose Sam LaPorta."
"The issue is going to be timing. The issue, for me, is Jack Campbell. But I would rather have two stud defensive ends versus a stud linebacker. If you pick up his fifth-year option, he’s still under contract for 2027. But what would he draw in a trade? Can you get some capital and replenish things in the draft?"
As things stand now, the Lions have at least 11 players who are either top-10 or top-five players at their position: Jared Goff, Alim McNeill, LaPorta and Campbell in the former department, Aidan Hutchinson, Jahmyr Gibbs, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Penei Sewell, Frank Ragnow, Brian Branch and Joseph in the latter. Logic says they won't be able to keep all of them.
"I want to win the Super Bowl this season, knowing I may have to lose one or two of these guys anyway. But I might as well lose them in pursuit of the Super Bowl with the best roster in the NFL," says Costa. "You may think they’re already the best roster -- leave nothing to chance. The other teams are getting better, too."
The Lions currently have about $50 million in cap space next season, but most of it is going to disappear in 2026. They've already saved money this offseason by keeping Marcus Davenport over Za'Darius Smith and signing D.J. Reed over Carlton Davis III. Costa asks, "Are we saving money, or are we getting better?"
"What’s the plan on the D-line? Brad can say they’ve invested in it heavily. They need to invest in it more. You look at what the Eagles have done, the quarterbacks on the schedule this season, the quarterbacks you’ll need to beat to win the Super Bowl, go land the guy who led the league in sacks the last two seasons and is actually available.
"We don’t operate in a video game. You may have to lose a guy or two down the road. My point is, that’s inevitable. There are windows, despite what Brad Holmes contends. The league is designed to tear down good teams and prop up bad teams. It’s a draft and salary cap sport. You don’t keep everyone forever. While you have them all, I’d add Hendrickson now."