The Detroit Lions dominant victory over the Dallas Cowboys came at a steep cost, as superstar pass-rusher Aidan Hutchinson suffered a gruesome tibia injury late in the contest. Originally labeled a lower leg injury, the former second-overall pick has to go to a local Dallas hospital and undergo emergency surgery for a broken tibia. The good news is that the surgery was a success and the one-time Pro Bowler will recover fully with rehabilitation. The bad news is that he’s done for the season, leaving the 4-1 Lions with a glaring hole on their defensive line.
Aidan Hutchinson’s devastating season-ending injury is a reminder of just how brutal this game can be. Players go through it in a way very few can truly understand. Prayers up Hutch. 🙏💔 https://t.co/xk42uFXYDx
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) October 14, 2024
Selected with the second-overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, Hutchinson has been a crucial part of Detroit’s overnight rebuild. The Michigan product dominated from Day 1, finishing second in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting in 2022, earning a Pro Bowl in 2023, and leading the NFL in sacks through the first five weeks of the 2024 season. There are only a handful of pass rushers as good as Hutchinson, and none of them are available for trade. However, the Lions need someone to fill in after the Aidan Hutchinson injury, and the Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints have some interesting trade targets.
Lions Could Trade With Panthers, Saints After Aidan Hutchinson Injury
After finishing the 2023 season with the worst record in football, the Carolina Panthers spent the offseason trying to secure the long-term future of the team. First-year head coach Dave Canales knew he couldn’t address every hole in one offseason, so he prioritized the offense. While Andy Dalton and offseason additions like Robert Hunt, Diontae Johnson, and first-round pick Xavier Legette made the offense watchable, they can’t compensate for the atrocious defense. At 1-4, Carolina’s season is effectively over and they could trade edge rusher Jadeveon Clowney to the Lions following the Aidan Hutchinson injury.
While Clowney hasn’t played up to his contract with the Panthers, it’s worth pointing out that he was a key part of the Ravens pass rush in 2023. Perhaps he’s no longer the type of player who can thrive as the sole threat on a defensive line, but he could be a better fit with the Detroit Lions. While Canales has shown promise with the Panthers, Dan Campbell is the more accomplished head coach and could have an ideal role for Clowney following the Aidan Hutchinson injury. Detroit needs someone to get after the quarterback, and Clowney has the physical gifts to get the job done.
Free Agent Rental
The New Orleans Saints signed edge defender Chase Young to a low-risk, high-reward one-year deal during free agency. A former second-overall pick himself, the Ohio State product has the potential to be one of the game’s elite players but lacks the consistency to make the most of his gifts. While he might not be the safest trade target, he has the highest ceiling of anyone available. Nobody can match what Aidan Hutchinson means to this defense, but Chase Young could come the closest to filling his spot after the injury.
Young only has 1.5 sacks on the season, but he’s only one year removed from recording 7.5 sacks with the Washington Commanders and the San Francisco 49ers. New Orleans won’t get a third-round pick for his services like the Commanders did, but they could probably get a fifth-round pick that could become a fourth with playtime incentives. Seeing as the Saints are 2-4 with fifth-round pick Spencer Rattler set to start for the next three or so games, New Orleans could accept this isn’t their year and maximize their return for Young.
Main Photo: Andrew Dieb – USA Today Sports
