Lions’ options at edge rusher as season without Aidan Hutchinson begins

Reality is starting to set in for the Detroit Lions, now back in town, after a day of highs and a gut-wrenching low.

Yes, the Lions won on Sunday, but they lost star edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson. He underwent successful surgery at Baylor White Medical Center in Irving, Texas, after fracturing his tibia and fibula during Sunday’s 47-9 win over the Cowboys. He’s expected to make a full recovery but will miss the next 4-6 months. Head coach Dan Campbell didn’t rule out a possible return, however improbable. What we know for sure is that the Lions must adapt to life without Hutchinson.

But if you think Campbell and these Lions are content with wallowing in self-pity, think again.

“It kind of brings it back to reality, like, ‘Hey man, that’s part of this game,’ and that’s hard,” Campbell said Monday. “But I think they also understand that we are a team and everybody is here for a reason and it takes every one of us. That’s why we play with 11 on defense, 11 on offense, 11 on special teams. And we play together. If we need help in one area, we’ll get it from one of the other groups; that’s how we complement each other. They believe it’s next man up.

“…We’re going to have injuries. Things are going to happen. You’ve got to be able to step up, and you’ve got to hold the line. You’ve got to hold the line.”

That process begins now. With that in mind, here’s a look at how the Lions could look to replace Hutchinson.

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There is no true equivalent to Hutchinson on the roster. He’s one of one — a game-wrecker who had mastered week-to-week consistency prior to his injury. Even with the injury, Hutchinson leads the league in sacks (7.5), pressures (45) and pass rush win rate (38.3 percent). With the Lions also without Marcus Davenport for the season, and most likely Derrick Barnes, too, Detroit’s pass-rush depth has taken an obvious hit.

It’s going to have to come in other forms. Detroit’s interior defensive line is going to have to pick up much of the slack. Levi Onwuzurike and Alim McNeill rank 11th and 14th, respectively, in pressures among interior defensive linemen, per PFF. Onwuzurike has 17 and McNeill is right behind him with 16. They’re Detroit’s two best pass rushers without Hutchinson. There’s a chance we see more of Onwuzurike at edge moving forward, as he showed some versatility there this summer. That would allow him and McNeill to play as much as possible alongside DJ Reader. But others will be needed, too.

Third-year edge Josh Paschal isn’t exactly known for his pass-rush repertoire. But he’s a solid run defender and should get an extensive look to prove his value. Sixth-round pick Mekhi Wingo has flashed at times this season, mostly as an interior rusher, but the Lions did mention they believed he could kick out to edge on occasion. Rookie UDFA Isaac Ukwu was called up from the practice squad and played his first NFL game on Sunday. When asked about Ukwu’s performance, Campbell said he looked like a rookie playing his first game. But the Lions like what he’s done in practice and will continue developing him. Others on the practice squad are Mitchell Agude and Al-Quadin Muhammad.

The Lions have been giving Trevor Nowaske a look at SAM linebacker, filling in for the injured Barnes. But he played 29 snaps along the defensive line vs. the Cowboys. For the season, Nowaske’s got five pressures in 28 total pass-rush snaps, with a win rate of 16.7. Worth a further look.

And, of course, there’s still James Houston. Once upon a time, the Lions watched Houston total eight sacks in little over 100 pass-rush snaps — as a rookie, no less. However, Houston leaves much to be desired as a run defender. And when given a closer look vs. the Seahawks, he recorded more offsides penalties (2) than pressures (1).

“I have a lot of faith in that D-line room,” Campbell said Monday. Mac and Levi and Reader and Paschal and that group that’s going in there. Ukwu, we’ve got Muhammad on practice squad, Agude, Houston’s still here. So, we’ve got options and it’s why we play with three phases. So, we play offense, defense, special teams, that’s why we do it. And we help each other out. So, we’ll be just fine, we’re going to move forward.”

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Of course, it certainly feels like the Lions will need additional help. Expect the front office to monitor the free agent market. Perhaps the Lions can sign a veteran to the practice squad, with the promise of elevating them to the active roster when ready, like they did with Bruce Irvin last year. But a trade for help still feels like the best decision the Lions can make.

Ideally, you’re looking at teams with losing records who could become sellers at the deadline. Let’s discuss a few.

First, let’s talk about some of the more unlikely options. Lions fans have an infatuation with Maxx Crosby. He was born in Lapeer, Mich. He played football at Eastern Michigan. He’s one of the best defenders the league has to offer, and at only 27 years old, is in the prime of his career. He’s also on record saying he’d want to play for the Lions if he ever left the Raiders. Doesn’t hurt that the team he plays on is 2-4. Crosby is the only one-to-one comp for Hutchinson — a guy who could step right in and be just as disruptive without assistance. But he’s also the least realistic. Crosby doesn’t want to leave Las Vegas. He’s stated his commitment to the franchise time and time again. Not to mention, the conversation likely starts with two first-round picks. If you’ve listened to Brad Holmes over the years, a big splash like this doesn’t seem to fit his philosophy. Even then, the Raiders don’t seem inclined to move their star edge rusher.

Campbell and Glenn were assistants with the Saints when the organization drafted Trey Hendrickson. The familiarity is there, which is half the battle when talking about fits beyond this season. Hendrickson has since developed into one of the league’s better pass rushers. In 2023, he recorded 17.5 sacks and 79 pressures. As a result, he’s in search of a new contract, but the two sides didn’t make any progress on a deal.

So, that’s one part of it — dealing with a player who wants big money. But also, the Bengals have no real incentive to trade Hendrickson at the moment. Yes, they’re 2-4, but we’re only six games into the season, and this is a talented team with enough pieces to turn things around. Not to mention, folks who have covered the Bengals over the years will tell you the organization doesn’t typically make trades in season. It takes two to tango, and it feels like the Bengals would rather go dancing themselves.

The Titans are off to a 1-4 start. Would trading edge rusher Harold Landry make sense? Lions defensive line coach Terrell Williams coached Landry in Tennessee from 2018-2023. Landry totaled 10.5 sacks and 48 pressures in his final year under Williams’ tutelage. Landry has two more years remaining on his contract following the 2024 season, so this would be more than a rental. That could be a positive or negative, depending on his fit with the team. At 6-foot-2, 251 pounds, he’s more of a speed rusher than a powerful edge-setter like Marcus Davenport. A move for a player with control beyond this year would have to be a strong fit. Glenn is on record saying Davenport is the blueprint for what they want opposite of Hutchinson. Landry could help in the short term, but he isn’t that.

One player who makes a ton of sense is Cleveland’s Za’Darius Smith. Hard to think of a better fit for the Lions than Smith. He’s 6-foot-4, 275 pounds, can defend the run, had 60 pressures and a pass-rush win rate of 18.5 percent last year. He plays for a last-place Browns team that’s 1-5 at the time of this article. He’s a veteran who’s been around the block and has been productive everywhere he’s been. On a one-year deal, the Lions wouldn’t be tied to Smith beyond this season, meaning the capital to acquire him could be cheaper than others.

Would the Saints move Carl Granderson or Chase Young? A UDFA out of Wyoming in 2019, Glenn was on staff with the Saints when Granderson entered the league. Over the years, he has developed into a quality player and has a reasonable contract (signed a 4-year, $52 million deal in 2023). He ranks sixth in the league in pressures with 27 and owns a win rate of 18.9 percent. At 6-foot-5, 261 pounds, he can hold up against the run and could be an answer beyond this season. However, for those same reasons, he certainly seems like a guy the Saints would want to keep around. Young, meanwhile, is on a one-year deal and has been productive to start the season, but doesn’t always play with effort. If the price is right and the Saints are willing to sell, perhaps he could be a target. While we’re on the topic of Saints: Is Cam Jordan available?

We’ll see which names are floated out as options the closer we get to the deadline. A lot can change between now and then. Campbell said Holmes is looking, but a move won’t be made unless it’s the right fit or the right cost. No surprise there, if you know how this front office operates.

“He’s doing what he’s been doing, he’s looking,” Campbell said of Holmes. “Is there somebody out there that could potentially help us, what is it going to cost? And so, those things will always come up, but just because that’s there, it doesn’t mean we’re going to do it, and it’s got to be right if it is. Everything’s got to be right. And honestly, where we’re at now, we’re not in a hurry. I mean, I believe in the guys that are here. I believe in that D-line. Doesn’t mean we’re not looking, we’re not evaluating. Brad is, that’s his job and he’s good at it and we’ll take it as it comes. But our eyes are open, and we want to make sure that we have what we need here.”

(Top photo: Joe Rondone / USA Today)