Aidan Hutchinson has to agree. The thought of teaming up with Maxx Crosby in Detroit "just sounds right," two Michigan natives wreaking havoc on the Lions' defensive line.
"In the event that it did happen, that would be so dangerous," Hutchinson said this week on the Up & Adams Show. "And me and Maxx have a great relationship, I’d love to play with him. We see each other every now and then, we’ll DM every now and then, and we both have a lot of respect for each other’s games."
Crosby reportedly wants out of Vegas, where his relationship with the still-rebuilding Raiders has soured. He is on record as saying that if he could play for any other team, it would be his hometown Lions. He's a huge fan of Dan Campbell. If Crosby is traded this offseason ... "he knows where to go," Amon Ra St. Brown said with a grin.
"I mean, I don’t know how you stop him and Aidan, each on one side," St. Brown said on the Up & Adams Show. "It would be so lit. I can’t think of a duo like Aidan and Maxx who are on the same team."
Indeed, duos like that don't really exist. It's hard enough to find one elite defensive end, all but impossible to pay two. As Hutchinson acknowledged himself, "Do I think the likelihood of him coming to Detroit is high? No, just given the amount of guys that (the Lions) have to pay in the building that are already there."
"In a dream world, though, it sounds really good and it sounds right, which I’m all for," Hutchinson said.
Could Brad Holmes bring the dream to life? He at least has to consider it. The Lions' need across from Hutchinson remains clear. Crosby is one of the most complete defensive ends in the game, a three-down game-wrecker who's as disruptive against the run as the pass. An older, more accomplished version of Hutchinson, in a lot of ways.
And he's paid like it. The extension he signed last March averages $35.5 million per year through 2029. That sounds prohibitive for the Lions, who are already up against the cap and have more big-money extensions coming down the pike. Adding Crosby could preclude them from keeping at least one, possibly two of Jack Campbell, Jahmyr Gibbs, Sam LaPorta and Brian Branch.
Then again, Crosby's cap hit isn't quite as daunting once his extension kicks in. While he carries a $35.8 million charge next season, he's under $30 million for each of the three seasons after that. That's a relative bargain for a player of his stature, and will become a steal if Crosby maintains his level of play as the cap continues to climb. Hutchinson's cap hit doesn't seriously spike until 2029. Based on projections by Over The Cap, Hutchinson and Crosby would account for 14 percent of Detroit's cap in 2028. That feels ... manageable.
The Lions are already planning to restructure Jared Goff's contract this offseason to create more cap room in 2026, and could push more money into the future by restructuring St. Brown and Penei Sewell. They also might get some cap relief in the form of early retirements/releases in the years ahead. Financially, there could be a way to fit Crosby into the picture, even if it comes at a steep cost down the line.
Then there's the trade cost. The Raiders are said to be seeking a similar package to what the Cowboys got from the Packers for Micah Parsons: two first-round picks and defensive tackle Kenny Clark. Crosby probably isn't worth quite that much given that he has a good deal more mileage on the body. Parsons was entering year five of his career when he was traded last August; Crosby is entering year eight. He will be 29 next season. He missed the end of this season with a knee injury that required surgery, and the end of last season with an ankle injury. That certainly dings his trade value.
The Raiders, who reportedly don't want to trade Crosby, can set the price wherever they'd like. It doesn't mean that anyone will pay it. But a first-round pick would have to be part of the package, along with at least a Day 2 pick and probably a roster player. Crosby is that good, tied for first in the NFL with Myles Garrett over the last four seasons in tackles for loss (90) and sixth in sacks (44.5). Hutchinson is tied for seventh in sacks over that span with T.J. Watt.
Would the Lions surrender a 2026 first-rounder, a 2027 second-rounder and, say, David Montgomery? Or Derrick Barnes? Or Isaac TeSlaa? It would place an even bigger premium on Holmes hitting on the rest of his high picks over the next couple years to continue stocking the roster with cheap talent. The Lions could ill afford any more draft classes like their last two, which still might turn out strong but haven't offered much in the way of immediate impact.
Holmes has made targeted offseason trades that cost the Lions draft capital. It's not entirely out of his wheelhouse. He dealt a third-round pick to the Bucs in 2024 for cornerback Carlton Davis III, the same offseason in which he dealt another third-rounder to the Cowboys to move up in the first round for corner Terrion Arnold. Of course, the price for Crosby would be significantly higher.
But so would the impact. An edge-rushing duo of Hutchinson and Crosby would rival Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter as the best in the NFL; the latter tandem fueled the No. 1 defense in the league this season. Houston would likely be playing in the Super Bowl this weekend if not for a face-plant by C.J. Stroud in the divisional round against the Patriots.
With Hutchinson and Crosby on the edge, the Lions could be playing on this weekend a year from now. At the very least, something for Holmes to explore.