Sportsnaut
The Las Vegas Raiders would be a shocking landing spot for Trey Hendrickson, given their offseason strategy. Jackson Powers-Johnson‘s battle for the starting right guard spot should raise eyebrows, and why Aidan O’Connell has to speed it up. Raiders Daily explains it all before Saturday’s preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals.
The Cincinnati Bengals are in a contract standoff with All-Pro edge-rusher Trey Hendrickson, who wants a multiyear extension as he enters his age-31 term.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Bengals are “listening to trade offers” for Hendrickson.
So, Raiders fans wondered if general manager John Spytek would make a splash move to improve the pass rush. Remember, Malcolm Koonce is coming along slowly from a torn ACL, and Tyree Wilson has yet to meet the expectations of a first-round pick.
Well, Las Vegas Review-Journal‘s Vincent Bonsignore poured ice-cold water on the sizzling rumor that linked Hendrickson to the Raiders.
Doing so would take them out of the future franchise QB pool, and they'd be spending $65 million/year on their pass rushers.
For those reasons…….no. https://t.co/mQ5Ogt144y
— Vincent Bonsignore (@VinnyBonsignore) August 23, 2025
So, here’s some context to Bonsignore’s hard-no response to a Raider fan’s inquiry.
In March, Las Vegas signed Maxx Crosby to a three-year, $106.5 million extension. Hendrickson could command at least $30 million on a new deal. While the Raiders have the financial capacity to pay both of them, it would significantly limit their cap-space flexibility for the future.
Furthermore, the Raiders would have to give up a premium draft pick and an up-and-comer on their roster.
The Athletic’s Dianna Russini provided insight on the Bengals’ asking price for Hendrickson.
“Teams that have recently inquired about the pass rusher were told Cincinnati’s asking price included a young defensive player and a 2026 first-round pick, according to league sources,” Russini wrote.
Based on the Raiders’ moves this offseason, bargaining-bin shopping in free agency and trading back during the draft to acquire more picks, Spytek has preferred low-cost moves with an influx of young talent.
Hendrickson is an older, more expensive player who doesn’t fit the team’s current roster-building approach.
Read More: 5 Trey Hendrickson Trades Cincinnati Bengals Should Accept
You may need a detective to figure out how Jackson Powers-Johnson went from a versatile starting offensive lineman to a one-position player who’s in a battle for a first-string role.
The Athletic’s Tashan Reed listed right guard as one of the Raiders’ five remaining roster battles ahead of Saturday’s game against the Arizona Cardinals. That’s odd because Powers-Johnson is competing against Alex Cappa, who’s coming off a subpar year as a pass-blocker.
According to Pro Football Focus, Cappa took the field for 772 pass-blocking snaps and allowed the second-most sacks (eight) among guards in 2024. When you also consider his extended absence at training camp because of a rib injury, it’s a surprise he’s still in the battle...
