Will the Cincinnati Bengals deal All-Pro edge rusher Trey Hendrickson prior to the NFL trade deadline? With rumors of a trade swirling prior to the 2025 NFL season, the Bengals silenced the chatter with a one-year, $30 million contract extension, but the trade rumors are burning again.
One of the reasons Hendrickson is rumored to be on the trade block is due to the Bengals current record of 3-5. With Joe Burrow still weeks away from a return, should the Bengals turn into sellers? The team has a recent history of fighting its way back into playoff contention after slow starts, but the benefits of moving Hendrickson prior to the trade deadline could help the team on a long-term basis.
Do they get what they can get for Hendrickson now? Or risk losing him once he becomes a free agent in 2026? With many teams looking for pass rush help, the Bengals should be listening. One team with the cap space and draft assets to take on Hendrickson are the New England Patriots.
Bengals move on from Trey Hendrickson
The Bengals will seek at least a second-round pick for Hendrickson, but with the NFL season at the mid-way point and the All-Pro edge rusher serving as a rental, a trade with the Patriots could make sense. In Anfernee Jennings they get a player who is a former third round pick out of Alabama who made his mark in New England as a run stopper and situational pass rusher.
Under Mike Vrabel, Jennings has seen his time limited and at 28 years old, could serve as rotational depth piece for the Bengals for the remainder of the season and beyond. The Patriots also have 10 picks in the 2026 NFL Draft and can afford to ship a high mid-round pick in exchange for Hendrickson.
On the flip side, the Patriots add edge rush help and veteran leadership. If things work out and in New England, it could be a value for the Patriots to extend Hendrickson and still draft a young edge defender in the draft to learn and grow behind the veteran sack master.
2026 NFL Draft – Bengals can address needs with additional third round pick
The Bengals could gain a compensatory pick if they decide to hold on to Hendrickson and then he leaves in free agency. Although they could get a high comp pick, the third-round pick from the Patriots is at least guaranteed. With that pick, the Bengals could address the offensive line or add more young defensive line help.
Some offensive tackles to watch who could be available in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft is Utah’s Caleb Lomu and Ohio State’s Austin Siereveld. Some edge rushers to watch are Oregon’s Matayo Uiagalelei and Michigan’s Derrick Moore.
As for the Patriots, they can still address their edge rush needs with their own first rounder or second rounder and have multiple mid-to-late round picks to add depth in other areas. As for Hendrickson, he can help a team that is suddenly in the driver’s seat for a playoff spot immediately and could be the difference in how far they go in the playoffs. He could have the same impact on players defensively as Stefon Diggs has gad on the offensive side of the ball.