The NFL draft is right around the corner, and most teams are likely focusing on completing their draft boards. However, there are some big names that have been floated as trade candidates and some teams could try and swing big trades before the 2025 season gets underway.
Moe Moton of Bleacher Report recently identified the biggest potential trades that could still happen, and one involves an elite edge-rusher, Trey Hendrickson of the Cincinnati Bengals.
Hendrickson and the Bengals are trying to work out a contract extension, but things don’t appear to be going smoothly, and so much so he was granted permission to seek a trade earlier in the offseason.
The Bengals prioritized extensions for star wide receivers Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase, meaning Hendrickson could soon find a new home. Moton listed the Washington Commanders as a logical landing spot for the edge-rusher.
Here’s the exact deal Moton proposes, along with his feelings on the possible blockbuster trade:
- Commanders receive: Trey Hendrickson, 2025 sixth-round pick
- Bengals receive: 2025 second-round pick, 2026 fifth-round pick
“The Bengals may take an edge-rusher with the No. 17 pick in the upcoming draft. If that happens, Cincinnati could make phone calls right after its first-round pick,” he wrote. “Cincinnati should call the Washington Commanders. The Commanders lost their 2024 sack leader, Dante Fowler Jr., who went back to the Dallas Cowboys in free agency. Washington’s top remaining edge-rushers, Dorance Armstrong and Clelin Ferrell, combined for 8.5 sacks last year. If the Commanders acquire Hendrickson, he would be their top pass-rusher and give them a much-needed boost on the edge. Washington finished 14th in pressure rate (22.6 percent) last season.”
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The Commanders would certainly be thrilled to land Hendrickson, who would immediately bolster their pass rush. As Moton mentioned, the team lost Dante Fowler Jr. in free agency and Deatrich Wise has been the only notable addition to the group this offseason.
In 2024, Hendrickson racked up a league-leading 17.5 sacks to go along with 46 tackles and 19 tackles for loss. The veteran also earned a Pro Bowl berth, First-team All-Pro selection, and finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting.
The star defender is set to play on a one-year, $21 million deal in 2025, so the Commanders would need to extend Hendrickson. Hendrickson recently turned 30, but the veteran is showing no signs of slowing down and is coming off back-to-back 17.5-sack seasons.
In Washington, Hendrickson would start opposite Dorance Armstrong, giving the team a much-needed elite option on the edge.
