After a season that started with Super Bowl aspirations but ended in a disappointing playoff exit, the Detroit Lions could opt to reload rather than retool.
The team’s pass rush struggled to find consistency, especially following Aidan Hutchinson’s season-ending fractured leg in October. Now, the Lions have an opportunity to acquire one of the league’s premier edge rushers, as an insider has named Detroit a top contender for Cleveland Browns star Myles Garrett after his trade request.
Lions Could Pair Garrett With Hutchinson
The Lions have made multiple attempts through free agency and the draft to find a reliable complement to Hutchinson, but those efforts have largely fallen short. Bryan Murphy of The Sporting News believes Detroit could now turn its attention to Garrett, especially after being linked to him ahead of this season’s trade deadline.
“Now, Detroit can circle back on the Cleveland superstar,” Murphy wrote. “The Lions’ defense recorded just 37 sacks in 2024, ranking 23rd in the league—the lowest total among the 14 teams that made the playoffs. While Hutchinson’s injury played a role, the lack of depth at the position was exposed with the young star sidelined.”
Murphy noted that a duo of Hutchinson and Garrett could form one of the most dominant pass-rushing tandems in the league, addressing a key weakness for Detroit. The Lions’ defensive struggles were evident in their divisional-round loss to the Washington Commanders, as well as in their December defeat against the Buffalo Bills.
Myles Garrett Seeks a New Team
Garrett made his trade request public, releasing a statement on Monday expressing his desire to compete for a Super Bowl with a new team.
“As a kid dreaming of the NFL, all I focused on was the ultimate goal of winning a Super Bowl — and that goal fuels me today more than ever,” Garrett wrote. “My love for the community of Northeast Ohio and the incredible fanbase of the Cleveland Browns has made this one of the toughest decisions of my life. These past eight years have shaped me into the man that I am today.
“While I’ve loved calling this city my home, my desire to win and compete on the biggest stages won’t allow me to be complacent. The goal was never to go from Cleveland to Canton, it has always been to compete for and win a Super Bowl.”
With significant interest in Garrett, the Lions are expected to face stiff competition. Murphy suggested that the Buffalo Bills could also be a strong suitor, as both teams have similar assets, including late first-round picks in this year’s draft.
Experts anticipate a steep price for Garrett, potentially requiring multiple first-round picks—similar to the package the Chicago Bears surrendered for Khalil Mack in their blockbuster trade with the then-Oakland Raiders.
