Trey Hendrickson trade proposals: Could Bengals ship sack leader back to Lou Anarumo?

The Bengals informed Trey Hendrickson on Thursday that he might search a commerce. The All-Professional edge rusher’s camp will check the market to see what groups are prepared to pay the 2024 runner-up for Defensive Participant of the Yr.

His league-leading 17.5 sacks final yr and 35 sacks over the previous two seasons will entice each staff trying so as to add juice to its move rush. It would value, although. Hendrickson, who turned 30 in December, is within the ultimate yr of his contract and presently owed $16 million. He’s in search of an extension nearer to the highest of the sting rusher market. The Raiders’ Maxx Crosby reset that quantity this week, touchdown a three-year, $106 million extension with $91.5 million assured.

Cincinnati is unwilling to go that stage, particularly because it negotiates with receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins on long-term offers. Bengals director of participant personnel Duke Tobin stated on the NFL Scouting Mix that the staff plans to make Chase the highest-paid non-quarterback within the NFL. Higgins was anticipated to be the league’s prime accessible free agent, however the membership positioned the franchise tag on him for the second consecutive season.

Assessing the commerce worth of Joe Thuney v. Trey Hendrickson (from at this time’s PD&Jay) pic.twitter.com/7zTkd8Mn5y

— The Growler Podcast (@GrowlerPodcast) March 5, 2025

That leaves Hendrickson hanging on the market on a protection trying to go younger beneath new defensive coordinator Al Golden. Paying Hendrickson close to $35 million per season as an alternative of filling the various holes on the roster with youthful gamers makes much less sense.

The Bengals and Hendrickson want to determine what his market truly seems to be like. That information might blaze a path to a commerce accomplice or might get either side again to the desk with new parameters on their very own extension dialog.

Tobin, on the mix, expressed his need to maintain Hendrickson with an extension however acknowledged that either side must agree on that quantity.

“Our choice with Trey is to have him on our soccer staff as a result of we wish him,” he stated. “So I by no means actually talked about open preferences for buying and selling guys as a result of all that does is tackle a lifetime of its personal. And that’s not one thing I wish to do as a result of I would like Trey on our soccer staff. He’s beneath contract. We’re trying to pay him for what we imagine will probably be actually good future years and we see him as not falling off in his profession. That’s why we’re actively attempting, and if we get to the purpose the place we’re actively attempting to commerce him, possibly I’ll offer you a name.”

Trey Hendrickson is sixth all-time in Bengals profession sacks with 57 in simply 4 seasons with the staff. (Luke Hales / Getty Photographs)

Tobin didn’t name me straight, however that could possibly be as a result of his cellphone is blowing up with basic managers from across the league.

So, what would compensation seem like for Hendrickson? When you take a look at latest edge rusher trades, it’s clear a first-round decide is unlikely. Regardless of the manufacturing, Hendrickson’s age and the price of an extension take it off the desk.

Precedent from these offers suggests a second-round decide and alter to be the probably touchdown level.

Who could be prepared to make such a deal? Which groups have an interest and what can they provide? Would these groups be prepared to pay Hendrickson the extension he seeks?

I enlisted the assistance of The Athletic’s NFL writers to weigh in with affords. 5 beat writers tossed in proposals for the groups they cowl. Right here’s what they appeared like, with my ultimate alternative on the finish.

Chicago Bears

Commerce provide: No. 41 general

The Bears have a significant want at defensive finish, a GM who has already made two trades this week, the cap area mandatory for an extension, and a connection to Hendrickson in defensive coordinator Dennis Allen. Now, that may go a number of instructions. Allen was the Saints’ coordinator once they drafted Hendrickson in 2017. He was in that very same submit when Hendrickson left through free company. We don’t understand how a lot that potential reunion issues, however we do know that the Bears haven’t been afraid to make use of the commerce market to fill premium positions. A Hendrickson-Montez Sweat pairing at edge rusher could be formidable. After the acquisitions of guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson, a brand new deal for Hendrickson could possibly be an excessive amount of for a staff that also has different wants, however it’s nonetheless definitely worth the dialog. — Kevin Fishbain

Inexperienced Bay Packers

Commerce provide: 2025 third-round decide and DE Lukas Van Ness

Don’t let Hendrickson’s age (30) fully dissuade you right here. The fuel tank continues to be loads full. There’s a contract extension to be given right here, although, in order that’s why the draft decide compensation isn’t greater. We throw in a younger edge rusher with untapped potential to sweeten the pot because the Bengals is perhaps inquisitive about Van Ness, the 2023 first-round decide who has but to interrupt out and has three seasons left of staff management.

The Packers’ want at edge rusher has been well-documented this offseason after basic supervisor Brian Gutekunst stated in January that the staff’s move rush was too inconsistent in 2024. The Packers wish to generate stress by speeding a conventional 4 as an alternative of getting to drum up unique pressures and blitzes. Hendrickson would definitely clear up that downside and immediately type one of many NFL’s greatest pass-rushing duos with Rashan Gary. — Matt Schneidman

Maybe a change of surroundings might assist Lukas Van Ness attain his first-round potential. (Dan Powers / Imagn Photographs)

Washington Commanders

Commerce provide: Washington trades No. 29, a 2026 second-round decide and defensive sort out Jonathan Allen for Hendrickson and No. 49

You could have heard that the complete NFL universe desires to ship Browns DE Myles Garrett to the Commanders. Nevertheless, Cleveland is presently blocking that door. Hendrickson is hardly a fallback possibility. Washington has wants in each place room — over 25 free brokers will skinny a roster — however an edge defender is precedence No. 1.

The Commanders ranked thirtieth in opposition to the run within the common season after which surrendered 430 yards on the bottom of their ultimate two playoff video games. Washington completed twelfth in sacks, however Dante Fowler (10.5 sacks) is a free agent. He additionally isn’t a thrèe-down participant.

The Commanders will probably launch Allen and not using a commerce. He stays a stable lineman with an reasonably priced $15.5 million base wage for the ultimate yr of his contract. Washington has cap area. I might relatively the Commanders spend huge on Khalil Mack in free company than quit picks, however the edge defender want is actual. That’s why we at the very least become involved within the Hendrickson talks. — Ben Standig

Atlanta Falcons

Commerce provide: 2026 second-round decide and 2026 fifth-round decide

The Falcons ought to instantly provide this yr’s third-round decide for Hendrickson. Oh wait, that decide now belongs to the Patriots as a result of they despatched it to New England final offseason for an additional 30-plus move rusher in Matt Judon. That’s not an ideal parallel to this example. Judon was coming off a biceps tear that value him 13 video games the earlier season. Hendrickson is coming off main the NFL in sacks.

Nonetheless, Atlanta is perhaps hesitant to leap proper again into this equally formed boat after the best way the Judon deal labored out. He completed the season with 5.5 sacks and basic supervisor Terry Fontenot acknowledged after the season that it was the improper transfer on the improper time.

Possibly Hendrickson could be the appropriate transfer on the proper time. He’s third within the league in sacks since 2019 with 70.5, which trails solely T.J. Watt and Myles Garrett (and never by a lot), however he’s 30. And he’ll require an enormous new deal nearly instantly as a result of he’s enjoying on the ultimate yr of a contract that pays him $18.6 million in 2025.

Atlanta might make this provide extra palatable by making it the 2025 second-round decide (No. 46), however that would depart the Falcons with only one decide between the primary and seventh rounds this yr. — Josh Kendall

GO DEEPER

Bengals’ Trey Hendrickson quandary: Will NFL’s sack champ be traded, prolonged?

Indianapolis Colts

Commerce provide: 2025 second-round decide, 2026 third-round decide

Colts basic supervisor Chris Ballard often takes a conservative method to offseason acquisitions, however Hendrickson could possibly be an exception. The four-time Professional Bowler is on a distinct stage relating to speeding the passer, and he’s proven no indicators of slowing down. Pairing him with defensive sort out DeForest Buckner might elevate Indianapolis’ defensive position into the higher echelon of the NFL and doubtlessly raise the staff again into the playoffs for the primary time in 4 years.

Plus, from a training standpoint, there’s a number of familiarity. New Indy defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo held that very same function with the Bengals for the final six seasons, as Hendrickson performed like a star throughout his 4 years in Cincinnati. Colts defensive position coach Charlie Partridge was Hendrickson’s school head coach for 3 seasons at Florida Atlantic, the place he recorded 28 sacks in 36 video games throughout that span. These coaches know the best way to deliver the perfect out of Hendrickson.

After all, the Colts must reward Hendrickson with a profitable payday in the event that they have been to commerce for him. He’s projected to internet a two-year, $59.3 million contract extension, per Spotrac, and he might even need extra years. That’s a hefty value to pay, however nice gamers don’t come low-cost and after years of mediocrity, maybe this could possibly be the primary of some offseason strikes that put Indianapolis on a brand new stage. In return for Hendrickson, the Bengals would obtain two early-round picks. — James Boyd

The choices

• Bears: No. 41
• Packers: No. 87 and Lukas Van Ness
• Commanders: No. 29, 2026 second and Jonathan Allen for Hendrickson and No. 49
• Falcons: 2026 second and 2026 fifth
• Colts: No. 45, 2026 third

If all of those groups put collectively extension affords that appeased Hendrickson and these have been the compensation affords to select from, then the runner-up for Defensive Participant of the Yr will not be with the Bengals.

Hendrickson will probably be a member of the Indianapolis Colts.

Taking one yr of Jonathan Allen and transferring up 20 spots to the again of the primary spherical could be tempting, however on this draft, I don’t understand how a lot distinction there would truly be between 29 and 49. You’ll probably get a really comparable kind of participant by the character of how stocked that portion of the draft seems.

Jonathan Allen is an intriguing addition to a deal however not sufficient to place the Commanders’ provide excessive on this state of affairs. (Rob Carr / Getty Photographs)

The Bengals are additionally much less inquisitive about 2026 picks. They have to restock now and reap the benefits of the plethora of high quality defensive linemen on this draft class. That takes the Falcons off the desk and lessens the attract of the throw-in by the Commanders.

I recognize the provide from the Packers, however the Bengals are already frightened about one 2023 first-round edge rusher who is perhaps a bust in Myles Murphy, so that they in all probability don’t wish to tackle one other.

The Bears’ provide is sweet and clear and would have been the reply if not for the Colts including just a little sweetener to the again finish.

That leaves the Colts. Commerce accepted. The decide at 45 with a 2026 third tossed in hits Cincinnati precisely the place it wants it. That might give the Bengals three of the highest 50 picks on this draft and two of these would probably be defensive linemen to associate with three prime 100 picks from the earlier two draft lessons. The cash saved with Hendrickson’s departure additionally clears $16 million to be extra aggressive in touchdown a beginning defensive sort out and edge in free company.

Simply to play out one imaginative and prescient of the complete state of affairs of the two-deep on this theoretical full line rebuild:

Edge: Malcolm Koonce (FA, Las Vegas), Myles Murphy, Landon Jackson (R2, 41, Arkansas), Joseph Ossai

Defensive sort out: Levi Onwuzurike (FA, Detroit), Derrick Harmon (R1, 17, Oregon), Kris Jenkins, McKinnley Jackson

This additionally probably bridges the hole to complete off negotiations with Higgins and Chase after which permits the Bengals to seize a guard to compete to begin the opener with decide No. 49.

None of that is splendid, after all, changing the manufacturing of 35 sacks in two years gained’t be straightforward, however quite a lot of bets on younger gamers for Golden’s protection might acquire momentum to thrive within the mixture because the yr progresses. And, let’s be trustworthy, it’s exhausting to be a lot worse than what unfolded final yr.

Maybe the Bengals are about to search out out.

(High picture: Jeff Dean / Related Press)