Trey Hendrickson to Green Bay or Detroit? 6 Trade Destinations for Bengals Star
Published August 18, 2025
The Cincinnati Bengals might be willing to part ways with Trey Hendrickson.
Mired in a contract impasse that's going nowhere, the Bengals are listening to trade offers for their disgruntled star pass rusher, according to multiple reports.
Granted to seek a trade in March, no move was consummated and Hendrickson reported to training camp for the Bengals. However, Hendrickson has been a hold-in — not participating in practices as the two sides try to work toward a deal that makes him one of the highest-paid pass rushers in the league.
The Bengals reportedly want defensive help and draft compensation in return for Hendrickson if they opt to trade him, which one longtime NFL executive thinks is a reasonable ask.
"If he feels he is a $35-40 million player at a premium position, I would want a 1 plus a starting player or a 1 and a 3," the executive told me when asked about potential trade compensation for Hendrickson. "But in this situation, I would want the prior."
There's no question Hendrickson is one of the best pass rushers in the game. He finished with a league-high 17.5 sacks last season to go with 46 combined tackles, six pass breakups and two forced fumbles. That effort was good enough for first-team All-Pro honors and a runner-up finish in the Defensive Player of the Year voting. Hendrickson earned Pro Bowl invitations all four seasons he's been with the Bengals.
Hendrickson's 35 sacks over the last two seasons are the most in the NFL, and his 92 pressures were tops in the league last season. He also accounted for 32.2% of Cincinnati's pressures in 2024, making him the only defender to have recorded a team pressure share over 30%, per Next Gen Stats.
Hendrickson, 30, is currently set to make $16 million in total compensation in the final year of his deal. Hendrickson joins another elite pass rusher in Micah Parsons, who is also holding in with the Dallas Cowboys in search of a new deal.
Both players likely point to T.J. Watt's three-year, $123 million contract that averages $41 million annually — making him the highest-paid non-quarterback in the league — as a potential barometer for where their contract should come in. But at least one agent thinks Hendrickson might have to settle for a little less than that.
"Considering 30-year-old Danielle Hunter just got a deal this offseason at $35.6 million a year, there's a somewhat reasonable argument that Trey should be in that ballpark as well," said J.I. Halsell, a certified NFL agent and executive vice president of client compensation for 3 Strand Sports. "However, the Hunter deal is a one-year extension, therefore it's not really a solid, apples-to-apples data point when trying to forecast a multi-year extension for Trey.
"If he's looking for a multi-year deal, then based on the current edge market, there's a gap in the market from Josh Hines-Allen's $28.25 million a year up to the next edge deal of Nick Bosa's $34 million. Thus, a deal that's in the $30 to $32 million a year range could make sense on a multi-year deal."
As teams have to weigh how much they want to give up in trade and salary compensation to land Hendrickson, here are six teams that make sense as potential trade partners. Indianapolis Colts
Hendrickson's former defensive coordinator with the Bengals, Lou Anarumo, now leads the defense in Indianapolis, providing a smooth transition for the talented edge rusher in a defensive scheme he knows intimately. The Colts could also use some pass-rush help, too. Kwity Paye led Indianapolis last season with eight sacks.
Colts general manager Chris Ballard and head coach Shane Steichen are under intense pressure to get something done this season and are in win-now mode. Indianapolis has about $17 million in salary cap space, and might have to move a talented player like offensive lineman Quenton Nelson to get it done. Green Bay Packers
Much like the Colts, the Packers are in desperate need of pass rush help and fighting for a playoff spot in one of the toughest divisions in the league. Green Bay's 210 quarterback pressures were tied for 19th in the NFL last season.
Jordan Love returned to the field from injury this week and leads a talented Green Bay offense, but they could use an upgrade along the defensive line from a pass rush led by Rashan Gary. The Packers have a little over $30 million in cap space, so they can get something done. And in a passing division led by a pair of quarterback whisperers in Kevin O'Connell and Ben Johnson, the Packers could use a top-tier pass rusher like Hendrickson, who can get home in critical portions of the game. Los Angeles Chargers
The Bolts lost Joey Bosa to the Buffalo Bills in free agency and are counting on Tuli Tuipulotu to fill the void opposite Khalil Mack. But in an AFC West division that includes the best player in the league (Patrick Mahomes), the Chargers could use experienced help up front to chase down the Kansas City Chiefs.
Head coach Jim Harbaugh has preached all offseason that the coaches and players must raise their level of play to match franchise quarterback Justin Herbert. What better way to show his team is doing that than trading for a talented playmaker like Hendrickson? The Chargers have a little over $30 million in cap space, so they have room to make a move. Chicago Bears
Chicago had the most-sacked quarterback in the league in Caleb Williams, who was taken down 68 times last season. But on the other side of the line of scrimmage, Chicago's 40 sacks finished tied for 16th in the NFL. The Bears have not had a double-digit sack man since Robert Quinn set the franchise record with 18.5 sacks in 2021.
The Bears invested in one of the most innovative minds in Johnson to get the most out of Williams, but Chicago needs a legitimate closer up front defensively to get off the field and get the ball back to the offense. Hendrickson would fill that void. He also gets a chance to play for defensive coordinator Dennis Allen again, who coached Hendrickson in New Orleans. The Bears have little wiggle room with $13.2 million in cap space, though, so they might have to move some things around to get a deal done. Carolina Panthers
The Panthers finished with 32 sacks in 2024, tied for 30th in the NFL. So, Carolina would be wise to add some juice to the team's pass rush. Hendrickson would give Carolina another impact player on offense in a winnable division playing in the NFC South. The Panthers have nearly $19 million in cap space.
Quarterback Bryce Young took a step in development under the direction of head coach Dave Canales last season, and Ejiro Evero is one of the top young defensive coordinators in the league. Adding Hendrickson could propel the Panthers to the top of the NFC South conversation with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Atlanta Falcons. Detroit Lions
Aidan Hutchinson is one of the top pass rushers in the league, but returning from a gruesome season-ending leg injury. Hendrickson could help give the Lions juice off the edge as Hutchinson works himself back to being a consistent game wrecker.
The Lions also lost a lot of brain power with former defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn taking over as the head coach of New York Jets and ex-offensive coordinator Johnson now in Chicago. Having another dynamic playmaker like Hendrickson could help make up for those schematic deficiencies. The Lions have the second-most cap space in the league with $47.8 million in room.
Eric D. Williams has reported on the NFL for more than a decade, covering the Los Angeles Rams for Sports Illustrated, the Los Angeles Chargers for ESPN and the Seattle Seahawks for the Tacoma News Tribune. Follow him on X at @eric_d_williams.
Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account , and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! Print Close
URL
https://www.foxnews.com/sports/trey-hendrickson-green-bay-detroit-6-trade-destinations-bengals-star
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
27 minutes ago
- Yahoo
NFL holdouts, contract negotiation tracker: Are Cowboys, Micah Parsons really headed for 'divorce?'
NFL training camp season is upon us, which means holdout/hold-in season is too as players seek new contracts. The biggest saga of the summer has been between Micah Parsons and the Dallas Cowboys. Team owner and general manager Jerry Jones opened training camp with a wild, meandering media conference that took shots at Parsons' health, and Parsons has not been shy about voicing his displeasure with both that day and the entire process of trying to get a new deal. Parsons is arguably the NFL's best defender, and he's only 26 years old, so you'd think the Cowboys wouldn't mess around too much with this negotiation. You thought wrong! While the franchise has a history of leaving it late with star player contracts like Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb, to its credit, the deals get done. ESPN's Adam Schefter doesn't sound so optimistic about this one. [Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2025 NFL season] "You caan't get a deal done if you're not even talking, and the two sides haven't had any negotiations since late March or early April," he said Tuesday. "It sounds like at this point it's personal. It sounds like each side is dug in." There are, of course, plenty of instances in NFL history where negotiating acrimony was swept aside to get a deal done. Schefter, however, doesn't see that happening here. "I see these two sides headed towards a divorce in time," he said. "The only question is, when is that divorce going to happen, and how is it going to happen? Are they going to trade him now? Are they going to trade him after this year?" There's still over two weeks before the Cowboys open the regular season in Philadelphia against the Eagles on Thursday, Sept. 4. Who knows, maybe Jones wants to steal some thunder from Dallas' bitter rival opening the season as defending Super Bowl champion by getting the Parsons deal across the line a day or two before kickoff. Given the way this is trending, however, it doesn't feel like Parsons will be a Cowboy much longer. That's gloomy. How about the other contract seekers? Is there more gloom, or will there soon be reason to say "boom"? Washington Commanders WR Terry McLaurin: Boom Yahoo Sports' Charles Robinson spoke last week on the gulf between McLaurin and the Commanders, and what a deal might look like. "I think if it can get to $27 million to $28 million in annual average value," Robinson said, "if you're getting somewhere between $50 and $60 million in guaranteed money, I don't think either side would be happy, but I think it is the middle ground that gets those two together." Robinson believes the negotiation has gotten to a point where McLaurin's asking for $33 million in average annual value and $60 million guaranteed, similar to DK Metcalf's deal with the Steelers. The Commanders and GM Adam Peters might not be willing to go there, since the history of age-30 receivers delivering after signing a deal like that is short (McLaurin turns 30 in September). Plus, teams reportedly haven't been hammering Washington's phone lines with trade offers, and Jayden Daniels has publicly spoken about wanting McLaurin back in the fold. All told, the momentum here seems to be headed toward a compromise deal, so we'll go boom. Cincinnati Bengals pass rusher Trey Hendrickson: Gloom This situation has heated up again the past couple days. First there were reports over the weekend that the Bengals were listening to trade offers for Hendrickson. Then, the NFL's reigning sack king spoke to ESPN on Monday and said that while he and the Bengals are close on annual salary and the length of his next contract, the team's unwillingness to give him more than one year of guaranteed money remains the sticking point. The Bengals already amended their preferences with regard to guarantee structure twice this offseason, first with All-Pro wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase and then first-round pick Shemar Stewart. They really, really sound like they don't want to do it again, and even though teams know Cincinnati's back is against the wall at the negotiating table, all it might take is one reasonably sweet offer to get a trade done. We're going gloom here. San Francisco 49ers WR Jauan Jennings: Boom Jennings still hasn't practiced since reportedly aggravating a calf injury on July 27, but he did attend the 49ers' preseason game against the Raiders over the weekend, and he's done at least one light workout. We're not going to debate whether the injury is real or not, or if Jennings is maximizing his missed time in an effort to get a deal done. We're simply going to note that this doesn't seem to be a particularly acrimonious situation, and headlines have been sparse on it for weeks. That's usually a good sign. Boom.
Yahoo
27 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Titans' Simmons says his shove of Ward was simply flared tempers and blown out of proportion
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons defended shoving the Tennessee Titans rookie quarterback Cameron Ward at the end of practice Monday and accused outsiders of blowing up tempers flaring at a hot training camp practice. The No. 1 overall draft pick, wearing a red non-contact jersey, was celebrating a touchdown throw in a red-zone drill when he put a hand on Simmons, who reacted by shoving Ward. Simmons was escorted off the practice field, not talking to reporters until the end of Tuesday's practice. 'At the end of the day, you know can't touch a quarterback," Simmons said. "We at a joint practice and somebody touch our quarterback, trust me I'm going to be the first one in. So I respect the (expletive) out of the offense for having ... our quarterback back.' Simmons said it was all left on the field and that he would take only football questions. Ward is scheduled to talk after Wednesday's practice. Titans coach Brian Callahan said assistant coaches are asked to take a player off the field if tempers get hot and cool them down. Practice ended two plays later, and Callahan said his conversations with Simmons and Ward were between them. 'It was a training camp push and shove and a little bit of loud barking, and that was pretty much it for me,' Callahan said. "It's late August, and we're ready to go play some real football.' ___ AP NFL:
Yahoo
27 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Giants injury updates: Andrew Thomas, Malik Nabers, Cam Skattebo healthy
The New York Giants are getting some star power back in action this week. The team announced via social media Tuesday that offensive tackle Andrew Thomas had passed his physical and would return to practice. In addition, the G-Men will also see second-year wide receiver Malik Nabers (back) and rookie running back Cam Skattebo (hamstring) return to the practice field Tuesday. It's big news for a Giants squad that has managed to go 2-0 in preseason games without any of the three available. Thomas and Nabers are both starters and two of the team's biggest stars on offense. Skattebo, a fourth-round pick by New York this year, is projected to split carries with sophomore back Tyrone Tracy Jr. Here are the latest Giants injury updates from Tuesday: JAXSON DART: How New York Giants QB played vs Jets Andrew Thomas injury update Thomas suffered a Lisfranc injury in a Week 6 matchup with the Cincinnati Bengals last year. The injury ended his season prematurely and marked a second straight season missing seven or more games after he signed a five-year extension in 2023. The five-year veteran spent all of the spring and start of training camp on the PUP list while rehabbing from his Lisfranc injury, which required a surgery last fall. The Giants announced on social media Tuesday that Thomas had passed his physical and would return to practice. Malik Nabers injury update Nabers has been battling a couple of injuries this offseason. He first missed all of the Giants' spring activities while the team elected to let Nabers rest and recovery from a lingering toe injury he's had since college. More recently, the rising star wideout suffered a back injury that caused him to miss the last two weeks of practice and both of New York's preseason games so far. On Tuesday, head coach Brian Daboll told reporters that Nabers would be returning to practice. That opens the door for him to make his 2025 preseason debut when the Giants host the New England Patriots on Thursday night. Provided everything goes well, Nabers should remain available to start in Week 1 of the regular season as well. FANTASY FOOTBALL: WR tiers for 2025: Ranking best fantasy options Cam Skattebo injury update Skattebo suffered a minor hamstring injury in early August then missed the last two and a half weeks of practice when a setback kept him out for extra time. The injury caused Skattebo to miss both of the Giants' first two preseason games and robbed him of a chance to poach more first-team snaps from Tracy, New York's presumed lead back. Daboll said Tuesday that Skattebo would be returning to practice this week, which, like Nabers, opens the door for him to make his 2025 preseason debut later this week. If and when Skattebo takes the field on Thursday night, it will also be his professional debut for the Giants after New York nabbed him with a fourth-round pick in April. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Giants injury updates: Thomas, Nabers, Skattebo return to practice
