On Thursday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter posted on X.com that Bengals All-Pro defensive end Trey Hendrickson has been given permission by the organization to seek a trade, officially putting the NFL’s 2024 sack-leader on the trading block.
In Schefter’s initial post, he clarified that the Bengals granting this permission to the 30-year-old is a “rare move,” and went on to quote Hendrickson as saying, “It’s been an honor and privilege to represent Cincinnati over the last four years. I love this city and organization. I appreciate the privilege of now being allowed to explore my options.”
His 35 combined sacks over the last two seasons leads the NFL, and are a major contributor to Hendrickson finishing as runner-up for Defensive Player of the Year in 2024.
After being drafted by the Saints in 2017 with a third round pick acquired by the Patriots in a trade for wide receiver Brandin Cooks, Hendrickson was a slow burn for that New Orleans defense. After spotty production and playing time throughout his first three seasons in the pros, the FAU-product eventually burst through in 2020, recording 13.5 sacks and being named to the NFL Top 100 Players list by his peers.
Suddenly, Hendrickson was a sought-after free agent, eventually signing a four-year, $60 million contract with the Bengals. This led to a run of four-consecutive selections to the Pro Bowl, establishing himself as one of the very best pass rushers in the NFL. With all the success Hendrickson was having wearing the orange striped helmet in Cincy, he ended up signing a one-year extension in 2023 that covered the 2025 season, where he’s now set to make $15.8 million while counting for $18.67 million against the Bengals' salary cap.
But with quarterback Joe Burrow signing a $275 million contract extension in September of 2023, a forthcoming record-setting contract on the way for Ja’Marr Chase, and a franchise tag for Tee Higgins that’s reportedly in place with the intention of working out a long term deal, Hendrickson becomes a payroll casualty.
Do the Patriots, in desperate need of help in their front seven, have the appetite for a 30-year-old defensive end counting for $18.67 million against the cap in 2025?
Regardless of their preference, they can certainly afford him with a league-leading $128 million in cap space to spend over the course of the offseason.
Stay locked in to WEEI and WEEI.com for all the latest on the Patriots’ offseason.