The Detroit Lions have Super Bowl or bust expectations in 2024, and the team has impressed through five weeks. Dan Campbell's squad is 4-1 and is coming off a blowout 47-9 victory over the Dallas Cowboys .
Detroit is capable of winning its first Super Bowl this season, but the road to New Orleans became even more challenging after superstar pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson's season-ending leg injury.
The Lions also lost edge rusher Marcus Davenport for the year due to an elbow injury in Week 3. These significant injuries have caused Detroit to have one of the thinnest edge rusher groups in football.
With the Lions in desperate need of pass-rushing help, The 33rd Team's Tyler Brooke suggests the team should look into a trade for Jacksonville Jaguars edge rusher Josh Hines-Allen.
The Jaguars are in freefall after a blowout loss to the Chicago Bears in London, moving to 1-5 on the season. Big changes are likely coming this offseason, and if they want to embrace a full rebuild, trading one of their biggest assets in Hines-Allen could be a worthwhile move to pick up significant draft capital while clearing their cap space.
The problem with a potential Hines-Allen trade is that the Jaguars just gave him a five-year, $141 million extension to make him one of the highest-paid pass rushers in the NFL. Even if the Lions wanted to take on that contract, it would make things much harder for them to extend Hutchinson once his rookie deal expires after the 2025 season.
It's a true long shot, but the Jaguars might be open to fielding some trade calls for Hines-Allen at the deadline if someone is willing to offer them multiple top draft picks.
Though Hines-Allen's lucrative contract could create some problems for the Lions in the future, as Brooks stated, general manager Brad Holmes should still consider trading for the 2019 first-round pick.
Hines-Allen is coming off a career year in 2023, posting 17.5 sacks and 90 quarterback pressures , along with an 89.5 PFF grade . The former Kentucky Wildcat is one of the most electric pass rushers in the NFL and is a matchup nightmare for any offense.
Through six games in 2024, Hines-Allen has totaled 2.5 sacks and 24 quarterback pressures with an 81.3 pass rush grade.
Detroit has the draft capital to acquire Hines-Allen and also has the cap space to endure his massive contract, and there is no doubt that he would produce and provide elite-level play for Aaron Glenn's defense.
Replacing Hutchinson is a tall task, but Hines-Allen is one of the few players at the position who compares to the Lions 2022 No. 2 overall pick.
Detroit will put the trade search on the side to take on the undefeated Minnesota Vikings on Sunday. The winner of that game will have sole possession of first place in the NFC North.
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