The Cincinnati Bengals and Trey Hendrickson are in disagreement about a potential contract extension before the start of the 2025 NFL season. Hendrickson has been one of the top pass rushers in the NFL over the last two seasons.
He will be a free agent after the 2025 NFL season. There is a chance that Hendrickson could sit out the entire season if no agreement is reached or maybe Cincinnati would trade him to another contender. The Bengals need to end this drama of not giving him a new deal or they need to trade him elsewhere. Different NFL analysts are suggesting Cincinnati to trade Hendrickson to other contenders across the NFL.
One NFL.com Analyst Suggests That the Cincinnati Bengals Trade Trey Hendrickson To the Washington Commanders
The Washington Commanders were one of the biggest stories in the NFL for the 2024 season. Quarterback Jayden Daniels led the Commanders to the NFC Championship Game before losing to the Philadelphia Eagles. Washington’s defense was gashed against running back Saquon Barkley and company. They need to improve the defense no doubt.
NFL.com columnist Jeffri Chadiha suggests that the Bengals trade Hendrickson to the Commanders. Chadiha said,
“This situation seems to be worsening by the day, which is a great reason why the Bengals should move Hendrickson before the season. He clearly could supply tremendous value to another team — since he led the league with 17.5 sacks last year — and Cincinnati needs to change a downward trajectory after missing the last two postseasons.
Washington is a contender that could desperately use the pass-rush help and has the cap space to make this move happen with QB Jayden Daniels on a rookie deal. It’s also apparent Cincy isn’t willing to pay Hendrickson what he wants in a hyper-inflated edge rusher market. The Bengals thought they could appease him, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins with new deals when the offseason began. Two out of three ain’t bad.”
Hendrickson is 30 years old. To go along with 17.5 sacks last season with the Bengals, he also recorded 46 tackles, two forced fumbles, and six pass deflections. Hendrickson led the NFL in sacks during the 2025 NFL season. He is one of the best pass rushers in the entire NFL.
If the Commanders were to acquire him in a trade before the 2025 season or at the trade deadline, this is a trade that would put Washington into the Super Bowl picture potentially. It would be a mistake for Cincinnati to trade its best pass rusher when they had a historically bad defense in 2024. They also haven’t signed first-round pick Shemar Stewart to a rookie contract yet as well and that’s also a mistake. Also, Washington will not be the only team in the trade market for the Bengals star pass rusher.
The Detroit Lions and the Green Bay Packers will be two teams in the market for Hendrickson as well. All of these trade talks will be put to bed if Cincinnati can just give Hendrickson a contract extension already also.
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