Total Pro Sports
If the Cincinnati Bengals want to eliminate any unnecessary distractions by the time Week 1 rolls around, they’ll have to decide on a) extending or b) trading superstar edge rusher Trey Hendrickson.
The 2024 sacks leader is entering the final year of his contract and has been vocal about his desire to get an extension. Per ESPN’s Ben Baby, Trey Hendrickson told reporters last week that the process has gotten “personal,” and that he was unhappy with head coach Zac Taylor warning him about fines if he missed mandatory minicamp.
Cincinnati has always been budget-conscious under owner Mike Brown, but they opened up their checkbooks to extend star wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase (four years, $161 million) and Tee Higgins (four years, $115 million) in March.
Assuming Brown and the front office are adamant about no extension for Hendrickson, the best bet is to shop and trade him to the highest bidder. There would be no shortage of teams interested in Hendrickson, but the San Francisco 49ers stand out as the ideal trade suitor here.
A TFL and a sack on back-to-back plays for Trey Hendrickson 😤#CINvsBAL on Prime Video
Also available on #NFLPlus https://t.co/lEJxUXD1NY pic.twitter.com/EcqSCe0XEW— NFL (@NFL) November 17, 2023
The 49ers have been searching for another stud pass rusher to complement Nick Bosa for a while now. They released veterans Javon Hargrave and Leonard Floyd in cap-saving moves, further weakening their pass rush depth.
Adding Trey Hendrickson, who recorded 17.5 sacks in both 2023 and 2024, would give the 49ers football’s best pass rushing tandem and bolster their chances of winning a Super Bowl.
Since Trey Hendrickson is 30 and will be entering his contract year, it’s unlikely that Cincinnati will get a first-round pick for him. For San Francisco GM John Lynch, a fair trade offer would be a 2026 second-round pick and a conditional fifth-round pick that can become a fourth depending on playing time and how far they go in the postseason.
Also Read: VIDEO: Joe Burrow Calls Out The NFL For Screwing The Cincinnati Bengals
