The Cincinnati Bengals remain in a contract dispute with star pass rusher Trey Hendrickson. Widely regarded as one of the best at his position, Hendrickson has yet to receive the contract he desires, which is surprising considering he led the league in sacks in 2024.
“Hendrickson finished 2024 as the NFL leader in sacks with 17.5, earning his first All-Pro nod by producing at an elite rate despite belonging to a Cincinnati defensive front that struggled against the run and in generating a consistent pass rush,” NFL.com’s Nick Shook wrote.
After months of stalled negotiations, the Bengals are now reportedly listening to trade offers for Hendrickson.
“The Bengals and their star defensive end have been discussing a new contract for months and appear to be at an impasse. Things have gotten so bad, Cincinnati has actually begun listening to trade offers for the four-time Pro Bowler,” SI’s Ryan Phillips wrote.
One team to watch closely in a potential trade scenario is the Detroit Lions.
“The Lions addressed their offensive line early in the 2025 NFL Draft, also adding wide receiver depth. One area that went curiously overlooked: pass rusher, despite the team desperately needing the since-departed Za’Darius Smith to step in as an Aidan Hutchinson replacement last season. With more than $40 million in 2025 salary cap space still available, they could be a prime landing spot for a proven talent,” CBS Sports’ Cody Benjamin wrote.
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Pairing Hendrickson with Aidan Hutchinson would create one of the most formidable pass-rushing duos in the NFL. With Hutchinson recovering from a serious injury, adding Hendrickson would provide much-needed support during his return. A move like this could be exactly what Detroit needs to push past the final hurdle.
