The standoff continues between the Cincinnati Bengals and pass rusher Trey Hendrickson.
And now, a trade is becoming more likely.
Over the weekend reports surfaced that the Bengals are listening to trade offers for Hendrickson, as the two sides remain far apart regarding a potential contract extension.
Here are the teams that make the most sense for his services, even with the reported asking price.
Carolina Panthers
Pass rush was an area of need for the Carolina Panthers heading into the 2025 offseason. Carolina generated
pressure on just 16.2% of dropbacks last year (putting them dead-last in the league) and hurried the opposing passer on just 5.9% of dropbacks a season ago (fifth-worst in the NFL).
The team looked to address that need over the spring, in both free agency and the draft. They added Pat Jones II from Minnesota, whose seven sacks in 2024 (in just one start) would have led the Panthers. Carolina also added a pair of draft picks in Princely Umanmielen in the third round, and Nic Scourton in the second.
But with Scourton having suffered a collapsed lung in practice last week, adding Hendrickson would give this group a big boost. While Ejiro Evero bases out of a 3-4, and Hendrickson is more of a 4-3 defensive end, that is not a big ask as far as adjustments go, and with sub-packages remaining prevalent in today’s NFL, this is not a major concern.
Indianapolis Colts
After racking up 13.5 sacks for the New Orleans Saints in 2020, Hendrickson found his way to the Bengals in free agency, where his production flourished. He posted what was a career high 14 sacks in 2021, led the Bengals with eight sacks in 2022, and posted 17.5 sacks in each of the past two seasons.
All of that production came under Lou Anarumo, who was fired by the Bengals after the 2024 campaign.
But Anarumo found a new job … in Indianapolis with the Colts.
Making a reunion an intriguing option.
Detroit Lions
Last year the Detroit Lions were decimated by injuries, with one of the biggest being a season-ending broken tibia and fibula suffered by standout pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson in Week 6. The injury came as Hutchinson had already tallied 7.5 sacks over the first few weeks of the season.
By year’s end, that was still the leading mark for the Lions.
Detroit focused on the interior of the defensive line early in the 2025 NFL Draft, adding Tyleik Williams out of Ohio State. But adding a pass rusher of Hendrickson’s caliber and pairing him with Hutchinson would give new defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard quite the tandem to work with.
The financials could be tricky. While the Lions still have nearly $50 million to work with in cap space for 2025, things get tougher in 2026. Detroit is currently more than $43 million over the cap for next season, with an extension for Hutchinson one of the top items on general manager Brad Holmes’ to-do list. Getting trade, and extension, done for Hendrickson as well might be difficult.
But not impossible.
Cleveland Browns
Myles Garrett is a one-man wrecking crew for the Cleveland Browns.
But what if he does not have to be?
When the reports first surfaced that the Bengals were listening to trade offers for Hendrickson, the Browns were listed along with the Panthers and the Colts as early favorites. While adding Hendrickson makes sense from a roster construction standpoint, two big hurdles are in place. First, the financials. While Cleveland has $19 million available in cap space for this season, they are already over the cap for next year, which would make a contract extension for Hendrickson difficult.
Second, and perhaps even tougher to overcome, is the fact that Cincinnati is unlikely to trade Hendrickson not just within the division, but within the state of Ohio.
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers focused on making life easier for Jordan Love during the 2025 NFL Draft. They added wide receiver Matthew Golden in the first round, wide receiver Savion Williams in the third round, and right tackle Anthony Belton in the second.
Another way to make life easier for him? Shore up the pass rush and give him some short fields to work with when the Packers offense takes over possession.
Rashan Gary and Lukas Van Ness are a solid pass rushing tandem, but adding Hendrickson would give that group even more juice. Green Bay has over $31 million in available cap space for this year, and while money gets tighter next year, the Packers could make this move.
Seattle Seahawks
The NFC West is shaping up to be one of the more fascinating divisions, and having a defense that can disrupt opposing passing games could be a game-changer out west.
Which would make a move for Hendrickson by the Seahawks a fascinating deal for Seattle.
Head coach Mike Macdonald has veterans such as Leonard Williams and DeMarcus Lawrence in place to generate pressure, but bringing in Hendrickson would give this group even more juice. It would also reduce just how much the Seahawks need to rely on Macdonald’s scheme to generate pressure, as Hendrickson would give Seattle another option that can win one-on-one battles.
