The Green Bay Packers are not usually big players in the trade market. They also do not usually make big splashes in free agency. That being said, in 2024, they signed running back Josh Jacobs and safety Xavier McKinney as free agents, both of whom were the among the best players at their respective positions on the market.
This offseason, Green Bay signed left guard Aaron Banks and cornerback Nate Hobbs. And while neither exactly have the star power of their two Pro Bowlers signed last offseason, they are expected to have immediate positive impacts on the team.
And the Packers may not be done yet. Their next target, though, could be the biggest fish they have tried to catch in a very long time.
The Green Bay Packers Have Been Named the Best Fit for Cincinnati Bengals Star Trey Hendrickson
One of the biggest stars in the NFL last year was Cincinnati Bengals pass rusher Trey Hendrickson. He led the league with 17.5 sacks while making his fourth consecutive Pro Bowl. Hendrickson also finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting.
But the four-time Pro Bowler is not happy in Cincinnati as he seeks a new contract that will pay him close to what top pass rushers are getting on the open market. As a result, he is not participating in the Bengals’ offseason programs as he and his agent try to find a trade partner.
And Matt Bowen of ESPN believes the Packers could be that team. “After being granted permission to seek a trade in March, Hendrickson is refusing to play with the Bengals until he receives a new contract,” Bowen wrote. “If no deal comes together, Green Bay would be the perfect landing spot for him, as he’d pair well with Rashan Gary in Jeff Hafley’s defensive system. Lukas Van Ness, a 2023 first-rounder, is still developing at this stage, so there is a path for Green Bay to add more to its defensive line.
“Hendrickson is a relentless defender off the edge, with a deep toolbox of counters and a knack for making plays late in the down. His 17.5 sacks and 65 pressures were league highs in 2024. This would be a big-time get for the Packers’ defense, which tied for the eighth-most sacks last season (45).”
Undoubtedly, Hendrickson would be a welcome addition to a Green Bay pass rush that was underwhelming for the majority of the 2024 NFL season. Of their 45 total sacks, one-third of them were accomplished in two games (Indianapolis Colts and Seattle Seahawks).
The question, though, is whether or not the Packers would be able to afford what Hendrickson wants on a contract extension. Whatever team acquires him will likely need to pay him, and Green Bay is already scheduled to be over the cap next offseason.
That being said, the Packers have proven, time and again, that they can afford who they want to afford. His addition, though, would come with the tradeoff of allowing other players that otherwise would have been extended to walk in free agency.
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