Trey Hendrickson Trade Would Cement Commanders As Super Bowl Contender Amid NFL Rumors

The Washington Commanders shocked the football world in year one under head coach Dan Quinn, thanks in large part to a seismic change of culture and the emergence of rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels as a breakout star in the NFL.

After a trip to the NFC Championship, the team has momentum on its side and will look to take one step forward by competing for the organization's first Lombardi Trophy since the 1991 season.

To do so, it will have to improve its defense and there is no bigger splash the Commanders can make on that front than by acquiring defensive end Trey Hendrickson from the Cincinnati Bengals.

The Athletic's Diana Russini reported that the Commanders are among the teams exploring a trade with the Bengals for Hendrickson.

Washington ranked 11th in sacks in 2024 with 43.

Hendrickson alone had 17.5, leading the league in the process. A talented edge rusher still in his prime at just 30 years of age, he is an explosive player who could provide the spark for a Commanders unit that ranked 13th overall last season and gave up 326.9 yards per game.

The NFC East runners up were held to just two sacks against a Philadelphia unit that had conceded seven against the Rams a week earlier.

The defensive end would have a chance to come in and spark the pass rush, which would then open up opportunities to force turnovers, all while limiting the number of opportunities the opposition has to score.

He would enhance the defensive line's ability to make plays, freeing up some of the other, younger studs to make plays in key moments while the offense is worried about blocking him.

A player who has made every defense he has been on better than it would have been without him, Washington has a chance to land a player who would add to its renaissance and propel them into the upper echelon of NFC teams with a legitimate shot at contending for a Super Bowl.

Especially if Daniels can continue to grow and evolve as a leader and the face of the franchise at quarterback.