Throughout the offseason, Detroit Lions fans eagerly awaited an upgrade to the team’s pass rush, especially after a 2024 season in which only two players reached four sacks. Unfortunately, the Lions haven’t provided an answer to that need so far, and things have gotten more complicated as one of those two players, who reached four sacks in 2024, was let go.
There was hope that a significant move might come early in free agency, but as the offseason has progressed, the top pass rush options have all found new teams. Now, many are speculating that the Lions could address their edge rusher need in the first round of this year’s draft.
In the midst of the Lions’ pass-rush search, Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton has suggested an alternative route: a trade for Philadelphia Eagles edge rusher Bryce Huff. Moton proposed that the Lions could send a fourth-round and seventh-round pick in this year’s NFL Draft to acquire Huff. While this could be an intriguing option for the Lions, it comes with significant risk.
Huff signed a $51 million contract with the Eagles last offseason, but the money he earned was effectively lost after just one season with the team. His 2023 campaign was successful, recording 10 sacks with the New York Jets, but the rest of his career has been underwhelming.
Across his other four NFL seasons, Huff has only managed to total 10 sacks, making his 2023 performance seem more like an anomaly than a sign of consistent production. In 2023, Huff posted just two sacks and 20 total pressures in 12 games, ranking 102nd and 87th, respectively, among edge rushers according to Pro Football Focus.
Given that context, it’s understandable why the Lions might hesitate to invest in a player with such an unpredictable track record, especially when they have been cautious about spending on players with proven production histories or taking risks on less expensive options.
The Lions’ front office has consistently shown reluctance to commit significant resources to players with limited consistency, making it seem unlikely that they would take a chance on Huff and his single impressive season. It’s clear that the Lions need to make a move to improve their edge rusher situation this offseason, but Moton’s suggested trade for Huff seems like an unlikely path for the team.
While the Lions will likely look to bolster their pass rush in some way this offseason, it’s probably not going to be through acquiring Huff, given the potential risks involved and the team’s strategy of avoiding high-risk investments. The draft still appears to be the most likely avenue for the Lions to find a solution to their edge rusher issue.
