The Cincinnati Bengals had their first day of training camp on Wednesday. It should be an optimistic and hopeful time, but instead, the Bengals are in an awkward situation with two of their defenders.
First, 2025 first-round pick Shemar Stewart has still not signed his rookie contract, and Bengals executive Duke Tobin probably didn’t help the situation by ripping Stewart’s agent.
The problems don’t end there, though. Fellow edge-rusher Trey Hendrickson is also involved in a contract dispute with the team and that situation doesn’t seem close to a resolution, either.
As a result, it’s possible the team could still trade Hendrickson before the regular season begins. There would certainly be a robust market for the elite edge rusher, but there’s no guarantee the Bengals are ready to move on.
If they do, Brandon Austin of Pro Football Network & Sports Network proposes a trade that would send Hendrickson to the Detroit Lions. In Austin’s scenario, the deal looks like this:
Lions-Bengals trade proposal
- Lions receive: EDGE Trey Hendrickson
- Bengals receive: 2026 2nd-round pick, 2026 5th-round pick
In this proposal, the Bengals get a second-rounder and a fifth-rounder in the 2026 draft, while the Lions add one of the league’s best pass-rushers.
In 2024, Hendrickson appeared in 17 games and collected 46 tackles, 17.5 sacks, 19 tackles for loss, and two forced fumbles. The defender led the league in sacks, earned his fourth-straight Pro Bowl selection and his first first-team All-Pro selection.
When compared to Hendrickson’s production, this may seem like an underpay, but the Florida Atlantic product is 30 and will also be due a massive new contract.
Considering the two sides don’t seem intent on budging, the Bengals may jump at this deal rather than risk having Hendrickson sit out into the season, something he plans on doing if he doesn’t get a new deal.
The Lions, meanwhile, would finally have a suitable partner for Aidan Hutchinson. Hutchinson is a young, elite pass-rusher, but the Lions currently don’t have much else to get excited about at the position.
Currently, Marcus Davenport, Al-Quadin Muhammad, and Josh Paschal are the top options on the roster other than Hutchinson. That trio combined for just 5.5 sacks last year, so adding Hendrickson should interest Detroit.
But extending Hendrickson is also part of the equation here. Spotrac projects Hendrickson to land a three-year deal worth $38.8 million annually.
