The Detroit Lions are off to a solid start to the 2024 campaign, as the team is 3-1 coming off their Week 5 bye week after an impressive 42-29 win over the Seattle Seahawks in Week 4, and the offense looks to be one of the better units in the NFL.
Though Ben Johnson's offense is highly effective, Detroit's defense has a major question mark along the edge outside of Aidan Hutchinson, who is off to a phenomenal start to the 2024 campaign.
After a season-ending injury to Marcus Davenport and a clear shortage of depth at edge rusher, the Lions must acquire a standout pass rusher opposite Hutchinson, so The 33rd Team's Jeff Diamond predicted the team will pull off a blockbuster trade for disgruntled New York Jets edge rusher Haason Reddick.
Plenty of teams need help rushing the passer, including the Lions, who have Super Bowl aspirations. However, the pass defense could be their undoing, as it was last season. Detroit ranks 27th in pass defense and has only 11 sacks (tied for 19th) through five games. Aidan Hutchinson has 6.5 sacks, and no other Lion has reached two sacks.
The Lions have plenty of cap room this year ( more than $40 million) and in 2025 to take on Reddick’s $14.25 million base salary and extend his contract. They are missing a third-round pick in next year’s draft, but it may only take a fourth or fifth-rounder to get Reddick from the Jets, who probably want to rid themselves of his contract drama. They face a tough challenge to repeat in the league’s best division, currently led by the unbeaten Vikings. I think they’ll see Reddick as a difference-maker who would significantly improve their pass rush.
Reddick has been one of the most dominant pass rushers in the league over the last few seasons, totaling four consecutive years with double-digit sacks seasons dating back to 2020, including a 16-sack season in 2022.
The 2017 first-round pick would complement Aidan Hutchinson perfectly and give the Lions a championship-caliber pass rush.
Trade compensation for Reddick shouldn't be too difficult for general manager Brad Holmes to figure out, but the two-time Pro Bowler's contract demands will be tough to navigate. Reddick has made it clear that he won't step on the field without an extension, as the former Eagle will be an unrestricted free agent next offseason.
Though Detroit will have to pay Reddick premium money, it's well worth it, as the 30-year-old consistently produces quality numbers, and the Lions have over $40 million in cap space, per Spotrac.
Reddick would be an immediate game-changer for Dan Campbell's squad, possibly making the team a Super Bowl favorite.
