Will there be a Trey Hendrickson trade?

By: Jake Rajala

Trey Hendrickson has arguably been the best pass rusher over the past couple of seasons. He unleashed 17.5 sacks in 2023 and 17.5 sacks in 2024 (which led him to earn second in DPOY voting)! With that said, there has been a lot of speculation that there will be a Hendrickson trade. Hence, I’m going to untwine the pros and cons of a trade unfolding.

Pros

• Money

If Cincy doesn’t make Hendrickson paid like the best DE in the league, they can use that money for improving other spots on their roster. Sharp Football Analysis dubbed the Bengals secondary as the 24th secondary in the league in late January. It hasn’t improved since then. The Bengals also ranked 22nd in sacks allowed a season ago as they could use more quality pass protection.

• Draft

The Bengals would likely obtain a first-round pick and a second round pick in return for Hendrickson. They could use these picks to draft a young pass rusher and a stud RB – as they have failed to properly replace Joe Mixon. Perhaps they could draft another WR to help Joe Burrow outgun Mahomes.

Cons

• AFC Champions

Trey Hendrickson is vital to a team that will likely face Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, or Lamar Jackson in the post-season. They need as much defensive prowess as possible. The best way to beat Mahomes is getting after him without blitzing. This is where Hendrickson arrives.

• Money

The Bengals would clearly save money by not extending Hendrickson. However, I’m labeling money as a factor because Cincy can pay him without sinking the ship. They’re still 16th in cap space, which is manageable to pay Hendrickson. However, he is 30 years old, so I expect him to sign a three or four year deal.

I expect Hendrickson to return to the Bengals soon. They have the ammunition to keep him, undoubtedly. They also brought back one of the best WR2s in the league in Tee Higgins back this off-season. The boys are back in town and they should make another playoff push in the near future.