The Detroit Lions have a massive concern along the edge ahead of the 2025 season, but general manager Brad Holmes doesn't seem too concerned about it.
The Lions cut Za'Darius Smith earlier this offseason, leaving the team with Aidan Hutchinson and not much else on the edge. Bear in mind, even with Smith on the roster, the Lions needed more edge rush depth.
In a recent sitdown with Chris Long on the "Green Light" podcast, Holmes pointed to the re-signing of Marcus Davenport, the draft selection of Ahmed Hassanein and the recovered Hutchinson as reasons why he feels "good" about the position.
Lions fans are not in the same boat, and for good reason. Davenport is injury-prone and Hassanein is a total wild card as a sixth-round rookie. And, as good as Hutch looks, there's no telling if he'll totally be himself in the first year back.
One analyst, Bleacher Report's Brad Gagnon, shares the view of many Lions fans that the team doesn't have enough. That's why he predicts the Lions will trade for New York Giants edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux at the deadline.
"If (Thibodeax is made available), we are again looking at Washington, Green Bay and Detroit," Gagnon wrote. "In this case, Thibodeaux is the consolation prize because he's not close to as established as Hendrickson.
"The Lions have more money to spend than the Commanders and may feel the need to at least outbid them here to keep up with the Joneses in the NFC North," Gagnon added.
Giants general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll are facing a make-or-break season in which they must show vast improvement or else they could get canned in 2026.
However, it's more likely than not that the Giants are going to struggle, and if that's the case and Big Blue is out of it at the trade deadline, Thibodeaux could get dealt as the Giants look to acquire more draft assets for a rebuild.
The former No. 5 overall pick had a breakout campaign in 2023 with 11.5 sacks, but he took a step back in 2024 after tallying 5.5 while also missing five games because of injury.
Even with all that, Thibodeaux would be a welcomed addition if the Lions' pass-rush isn't up to snuff heading into the trade deadline.
He would be better than anyone Detroit has opposite Hutchinson, and Thibodeaux would be more than a rental with one more year left on his current deal.
Holmes might be content with the edge rusher group he has now, but if his lackluster plan blows up in his face, he could very well change his mind.