5 NFL Contenders That Should Trade for Trey Hendrickson Amid Bengals Contract Dispute

Trey Hendrickson has used his voice to publicly express his desire for a new deal, and recently, his tone has taken a harsh turn as contract negotiations with the Cincinnati Bengals have stalled over the last few weeks.

While on the Bengals' practice field in street clothes, Hendrickson didn't mince words and had a candid interview about his contract dispute with the team.

Hendrickson told reporters that negotiations have "become personal, unfortunately." He alluded to a "lack of communication" as an issue.

In a statement to ESPN, Hendrickson called out the Bengals for reneging on a previous agreement.

"No communication has taken place between my camp and the organization post-draft," Hendrickson said via Adam Schefter. "The offers prior to the draft did not reflect the vision we shared and were promised last offseason if I continued to play at a high level."

When The Athletic's Paul Dehner Jr. asked Hendrickson if he would play on his current deal, he replied, "No."

Last season, Hendrickson led the league in sacks (17.5) and earned his first All-Pro nod. Entering the final year of his deal, he should be rewarded with a big contract, but the productive pass-rusher will turn 31 in December, which may be why the Bengals are hesitant to satisfy his demands for a long-term deal.

Hendrickson would have a market if Cincinnati prefers to trade him rather than go through a holdout, though the Bengals are unlikely to get a first-round pick for him because of his age and demand for an extension that ESPN's Jeremy Fowler believes could exceed $30 million annually.

We'll narrow down suitors to five established or potential playoff contenders with realistic proposals for those teams.

Arizona Cardinals

AP

Cardinals HC Jonathan Gannon

Cincinnati Bengals Get: 2026 2nd-Round Pick, 2026 5th-Round Pick

Arizona Cardinals Get: EDGE Trey Hendrickson 

Among the potential contenders, Arizona wouldn't be the cleanest fit for Hendrickson because he's played in base 4-3 schemes and even-man fronts for his entire career with the New Orleans Saints and Bengals.

However, Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon employed even-man fronts as the Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator between 2021 and 2022. He's assigned play-calling duties to defensive coordinator Nick Rallis, who's fielded odd-man fronts.

Still, Gannon and Rallis could mix and match looks to incorporate Hendrickson's pass-rushing skill set. It's noteworthy that the Cardinals signed Josh Sweat, who played under Gannon in Philadelphia. He's mostly lined up as a defensive end in 4-3 base and 4-2-5 nickel alignments. 

Aside from Sweat, Arizona doesn't have a reliable pass-rusher on the edge. The club re-signed Baron Browning, who registered two sacks in eight games after he came over from the Denver Broncos in a trade last November. BJ Ojulari missed the entire 2024 campaign with a torn ACL. Fifth-year pro Zaven Collins has played off-ball linebacker and edge-rusher. He's yet to top five sacks in a single season.

As the Cardinals look to make a playoff leap in Gannon's third year, they could take another big swing at a defensive acquisition. Hendrickson would join Sweat, Calais Campbell, Dalvin Tomlinson and Akeem Davis-Gaither as key new additions on that side of the ball.

Detroit Lions

AP Photo/Kamil Krzaczynski

Lions DE Josh Paschal

Cincinnati Bengals Get: 2026 2nd-Round Pick, EDGE Josh Paschal

Detroit Lions Get: EDGE Trey Hendrickson 

Detroit has a first-time defensive play-caller in Kelvin Sheppard, who served as the linebackers coach before the team promoted him to replace Aaron Glenn. 

Aidan Hutchinson is working his way back from a fractured fibula and tibia. The Lions haven't re-signed Za'Darius Smith, but they brought back Marcus Davenport, who has missed 28 games over the last two years because of injuries. Al-Quadin Muhammad spent about half of the previous season on the practice squad. Paschal, a 2022 second-rounder, hasn't blossomed into a consistent contributor. 

With a new play-caller, a star pass-rusher on the mend and unreliable depth at defensive end, the Lions could look to make a big splash for an established playmaker on the edge. 

Assuming Hutchinson fully recovers, he could wreak havoc opposite Hendrickson up front. They would be one of the league's best pass-rushing duos regardless of who's calling plays. 

Detroit can add Paschal to its trade offer if Cincinnati believes the 25-year-old can benefit from a change of scenery.

Green Bay Packers

AP Photo/Kirk Irwin

Packers EDGE Lukas Van Ness

Cincinnati Bengals Get: 2026 3rd-Round Pick, 2026 5th-Round Pick, Lukas Van Ness

Green Bay Packers Get: EDGE Trey Hendrickson 

Before the 2024 trade deadline, the Packers sent edge-rusher Preston Smith to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Following his departure, Kingsley Enagbare took on a bigger role on the edge. He leapfrogged Van Ness on the depth chart, which is notable because the Packers selected the latter in the first round of the 2023 draft.

Even while suiting up for every game over the last two seasons, Van Ness has played less than 40 percent of the defensive snaps. Still, he flashed in spots as a pass-rusher, logging seven sacks and 22 pressures.

Remember the Packers drafted Van Ness before they hired defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley in January 2024. Perhaps Van Ness isn't an ideal fit for Hafley's scheme. If that's the case, Green Bay can try to swap him and a couple of draft picks for Hendrickson.

If the Bengals prefer to move on from Hendrickson, they may be interested in Van Ness, who's seven years younger with upside and on a rookie deal. The Packers can put together the most appealing offer if they're willing to package the former first-rounder with draft capital.

Hendrickson and Rashan Gary would be a fearsome starting duo on the edge.

Indianapolis Colts

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Bengals EDGE Trey Hendrickson (left) and Colts DC Lou Anarumo (right)

Cincinnati Bengals Get: 2026 2nd-Round Pick, 2026 6th-Round Pick

Indianapolis Colts Get: EDGE Trey Hendrickson 

Sometimes, you can solve issues with a breakup, and the aggrieved person can find solace in a reunion.

This offseason, the Colts hired Lou Anarumo as their defensive coordinator, the same position he held in Cincinnati over the previous four years. Despite Cincinnati's porous defense last season, Hendrickson had an All-Pro campaign under Anarumo, and he's recorded 17.5 sacks in back-to-back terms.

Indianapolis doesn't need Hendrickson in the short term, with Kwity Paye and Laiatu Latu on the edge. However, Paye is entering the final year of his contract. If the Colts expect to lose him in free agency next year, they can make a move for Hendrickson and sign him to an extension that keeps him under contract well beyond 2025.

Latu would spend another year in a rotational role, but the Colts would have a strong pass-rushing trio that would compare closely to the New York Giants' intriguing edge-rushing threesome of Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux and Abdul Carter.

Under Anarumo, Hendrickson could retain his sack title in 2025.

Washington Commanders

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Commanders HC Dan Quinn

Cincinnati Bengals Get: 2026 3rd-Round Pick, 2026 5th-Round Pick, 2027 3rd-Round Pick

Washington Commanders Get: EDGE Trey Hendrickson, 2026 6th-Round Pick 

The Commanders have a glaring weakness on the edge. Following Dante Fowler Jr.'s departure in free agency, Dorance Armstrong Jr. is the team's top pass-rushing defensive end. Armstrong recorded 24 pressures and five sacks last season.

In 2024, Washington ranked 14th in pressure rate (22.6 percent). Without Fowler, the Commanders could see a notable drop in that rate. 

The Commanders have been aggressive on the trade market this offseason. They acquired wide receiver Deebo Samuel and five-time Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil to address roster needs.

With a projected $84.2 million in cap space for 2026, Washington can afford to swing another big-time deal for Hendrickson, who can help the club go one step further in the playoffs to the Super Bowl.

Because the Commanders traded their 2026 second-round pick to the Houston Texans for Tunsil, they would have to dip into their 2027 draft capital to send a competitive offer for Hendrickson.

Player contract and team cap space information are provided by Over the Cap.

Maurice Moton covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @MoeMoton.