Will the Cincinnati Bengals be sellers ahead of Tuesday's NFL trade deadline? It's a question worth asking, considering they're 3-5 and trailing the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC North. They possess the kind of star power that could convince the regime their season is salvageable, but it's trending toward being a wasted campaign.
If Duke Tobin is willing to move veteran assets, defensive end Trey Hendrickson would be a prime candidate. Hendrickson requested a contract-related trade in the offseason and that situation went unaddressed. He'll be entering a contract season in 2025 and this situation could get ugly again.
Hendrickson has recorded seven sacks already this season and is among the league's most consistent pass rushers. He totaled a career-high 17.5 QB takedowns in 2023 and has accumulated 60 total sacks since 2020. We've identified three potential landing spots via trade.
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons continue investing resources into their pass rush but to no avail. They traded for Matthew Judon in the offseason, but have still totaled a dead-last six sacks through eight games. Recent draft picks Arnold Ebiketie, Zach Harrison, and DeAngelo Malone have combined for zero sacks this season.
Throwing capital at the problem has failed, but Hendrickson is the type of surefire pass rusher that would address the issue. Pairing Hendrickson with Judon would also relieve pressure off the latter, leading to more one-versus-one matchups. Defensive-minded head coach Raheem Morris is frustrated with the production, and making an uber-aggressive move could finally solve a years-long problem.
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals lost their two top pass-rushers Dennis Gardeck and BJ Ojulari to season-ending injuries. Honestly, this unit wasn't very good to begin with. It's full-blown disaster territory now. The likes of LJ Collier and Naquan Jones are playing starting workloads on this defensive line.
The 4-4 Cardinals shouldn't be interested in midseason rentals, despite being surprise contenders for the division, but a player that addresses a long-term problem should intrigue general manager Monti Ossenfort. With Hendrickson being signed through next season, the Cardinals possess the need and cap space to consider getting aggressive. Hendrickson's presence would also allow the defensive-minded Jonathan Gannon to bring young players like Darius Robinson along slowly. Gannon would appreciate solutions to his pass-rushing problem.
Washington Commanders
The 6-2 Washington Commanders sit atop the NFC East. They have Offensive Rookie of the Year candidate quarterback Jayden Daniels to thank. Daniels has completely transformed this franchise, immediately removing them from the basement of the NFL and turning them into instant playoff contenders.
Dan Quinn is a defense-first coach. Both of his current starting edge rushers, Dante Fowler Jr. and Dorance Armstrong, are players he coached with the Dallas Cowboys. Fowler Jr. and Armstrong are fine players, but a truly elite talent like Hendrickson would elevate this group to new heights. The Commanders are scheduled to possess $121.4 million in cap space this summer. GM Adam Peters can afford to go shopping with Daniels on a rookie deal for the foreseeable future.
