Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images If the Detroit Lions look outside the organization to replace Aidan Hutchinson, there are 10 edge rushers they should consider. Detroit Lions fans are waking up on Victory Monday and surely feeling conflicting emotions. After dismantling the Dallas Cowboys 47-9 on the road, the Lions made a statement to the NFL, but with the news that they have likely lost edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson for the season, there’s a mix of bitter and sweet. With only one loss in the season, the Lions have a top-four record in the NFL, but over the last month, they’ve lost all three of their starting edge rushers: Hutchinson, Marcus Davenport, and Derrick Barnes. If the Lions want to maintain their high level of play, they should be exploring the trade market. When exploring a trade, there are multiple factors to consider: talent, position, contract, acquisition cost, and age, topping the list. For general manager Brad Holmes, who is always keeping an eye on the future, he’ll have to weigh these factors and look beyond just the physical cost (draft picks, players traded away, etc), because the Lions have several players that will need to be re-signed/extended this upcoming offseason. For example, in the immediacy, while the Lions have the salary cap space and draft capital to trade for almost anybody that could be on the trading block, Holmes will have to consider how much of that capital he is willing to give up vs. the sacrifices that would mean on potentially retaining some of their homegrown players. The dream player the Lions should try and acquire is Maxx Crosby (Raiders, 2-4 record). Crosby may be the only one-for-one replacement for Hutchinson in the NFL. He is a dominating edge player who never takes plays off, and could be available considering the Raiders’ rebuild. He’s from Lapeer, Michigan, played his college football at Eastern Michigan, and has previously said that while he wants to be a Raider for life—something he has recently doubled down on—there is something intriguing about potentially playing for the Lions. At just 27 years old, Crosby is incredibly appealing, but there are some major costs that will be associated with him. First, the Raiders would likely command at least two first-round draft picks (maybe more), and second, his salary is worth $25 million this season, $23 million next year, and nearly $20 million in 2026. The fallout from that would essentially mean that the cost to acquire Crosby could equate to two starters that would be on rookie contracts for potentially five seasons, and they would be unable to re-sign several key players next offseason, potentially meaning they say goodbye to a player like Alim McNeill. While several fans would be more than happy to make that trade, the real question is, would Holmes be willing to sacrifice three for one? Trey Hendrickson (Bengals, 2-4) is next on many people's list because the stylistic fit is perfect and there is familiarity between him and the coaching staff that dates back to New Orleans. Our own Ryan Mathews previously explored this trade in great detail, but as the Bengals start stringing together wins, the cost to acquire him will go up. Haason Reddick (Jets, 2-3) will be another popular name floated around Detroit, but he’s a 30-year-old player who is currently holding out for a new contract, rumored to be upwards of $25 million per season. While he’s still a talented pass rusher, there are a lot of questions surrounding him. The Jets gave up a conditional third-round (compensatory) pick to acquire Reddick and would surely be looking to recoup their losses. The Lions don’t have a third-round pick in 2025, so they’d likely have to either give up a second or a fourth-round pick, plus additional compensation. Then, on top of that, would the Lions be willing to meet his contract demands? And, because he has not played/practiced this year, how long would it take to get him into football shape? Knowing what we know about Holmes, there are significant obstacles in acquiring Crosby, Hendrickson, and Reddick—both now and in the future—which substantially and negatively impact the chances of him trading for any of them. There is never going to be a perfect trade, and the Lions are going to have to be willing to compromise some of their preferences. But there are two trade candidates whose biggest obstacles can be worked aroundbe and should be near the top of the “realistic” trade possibilities. At age 32, Za’Darius Smith (Browns, 1-5) is not the dominating Pro Bowler he once was, but he’s still highly talented and capable of being productive in the Lions scheme. Stylistically, Smith (6-foot-4, 275 pounds) would be a plug-and-play starter in the Hutchinson role. He can set the edge, produce pressures, and get to the quarterback. He is capable of playing starter reps, but he’ll need help from depth players throughout the game. During the 2023 offseason, the Vikings traded Smith to the Browns for two fifth-round picks, sending Smith, a sixth, and seventh-round pick to Cleveland. Now, a year and a half later, the cost to acquire Smith in a trade should be even lower. Additionally, Smith’s salary is very reasonable and would only cost the Lions a prorated $1.2 million this season. They would also have him under contract for potentially $5.4 million in 2025 (depending on bonuses) but could also move on with no cap hit if they felt they needed to. While the physical cost to acquire and roster should be low, the Browns could be hesitant to trade Smith because they restructured his deal this offseason and created nearly $24 million in potential dead cap if traded. But if the Lions were willing to take on some of that cost, it would certainly make a deal more likely. Just how much they’d be willing to take on is not clear, but they have the salary cap room to get creative. Personally, this potential deal makes the most sense to me. The Lions could get a starter-level player that fits the scheme at a low cost now and in the future with some creative bookkeeping. Cleveland would be my first phone call if I was Holmes. The other option I would seriously consider is Harold Landry (Titans, 1-4). At 28 years old, Landry's salary is still in its prime and would cost a prorated $17.25 million this season and a non-guaranteed $17.25 million in both 2025 and 2026. This is a palatable number for the Lions, but there would be some give-and-take involved. The positive is that they would potentially have a position-flexible edge rusher under contract for the next two seasons, but it could also take away from a potential re-signing or two. On the field, Landry took some time to recover from a 2022 ACL injury, but he came on at the end of last season (11 sacks) and has four sacks in 2024. Additionally, Landry spent the last six seasons playing for now-Lions defensive line coach Terrell Williams, meaning there would likely be a speedy transition into the Lions scheme. Williams knows Landry’s strengths and how to properly utilize him, which would give the Lions a huge advantage they won’t have with any other trade scenario. If Holmes is looking to get a longer return on his traded-away capital, Landry will be a very intriguing option for him to consider. 5 other players that could be in consideration: Jadeveon Clowney, (Panthers, 1-5) is 31 years old and a rotational contributor at this stage of his career, but he is coming off an 11-sack season with the Ravens. He is also currently injured and would need to be healthy and cleared before he can be traded. Travon Walker, (Jaguars, 1-5) was suggested as a possible trade target for the Lions by ESPN’s Ben Solak, and while I am totally on board with the idea, I also think the suggested cost to acquire him (2025 fourth-round selection, 2026 fourth-round selection) doesn’t make a lot of sense for the Jaguars. Azeez Ojulari, (Giants, 2-4) is a young, developing pass rusher in the final year of his rookie contract but he fits more into the Barnes role than Hutchinson’s. The Lions could be interested, but there would still be a defensive end sized hole on the defense. Jamin Davis, (Commanders, 4-2) is another player better suited for the SAM linebacker role than at defensive end, but the former first-round pick has fallen out of favor in Washington and could be acquired at a low cost. Josh Uche, (Patriots, 1-5) is yet another young SAM option that would come at a lower cost to acquire but may not fit as big of a need. The former Michigan Wolverine hasn’t quite lived up to his second-round draft pick status, but he’s just two years removed from a 12-sack season and could be an intriguing addition.