Star defensive end Trey Hendrickson remains at a contract impasse with the Cincinnati Bengals. While it's hard to tell how things will play out, nobody would bat an eye if he ends up being traded at some point in 2025. Something similar may happen with T.J. Watt. Not long after the Pittsburgh Steelers acquired All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey, teams reportedly reached out to inquire about their star pass rusher's availability. Fortunately, the Jacksonville Jaguars are in a position to pass on both.
Hendrickson has logged 71.5 sacks over the past five seasons and is one of the most undervalued players in the NFL. Rightly, he wants a contract that reflects his status as one of the top pass rushers in the NFL. However, Cincy won't budge.
Watt has been equally productive and was even the 2021 Defensive Player of the Year. Although he's not on the trade block, several teams have called the Steelers about him. This is understandable. Like Hendrickson, he could help nearly every team.
The issue is that the Jags are set on the edges, with Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen in the fold. Granted, neither is in the same echelon as either Hendrickson or Watt, but they are pretty good pass rushers in their own right.
Walker is coming from his second straight 10-yard sack season, while Hines-Allen's 17.5 takedowns in 2023 set a new franchise record. Both of them should be even better in 2025 after getting back to their natural weight. Moreover, they'll play in a non-convoluted scheme that will ask them to rely on their instincts to make plays.
Back in 2023, Hines-Allen and Walker combined for 27.5 sacks. Don't be surprised if they get 30 or even more next season. Couple that with the duo of Maason Smith and Arik Armstead at defensive tackle, and the Jags' front four is in great shape ahead of 2025.
This begs the question, why wouldn't the Jags want to turbocharge their pass rush? There are a couple reasons.
With Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen in the mix, the Jaguars don't need to trade for a pass rusher
Maybe if the Jacksonville Jaguars only had Travon Walker or Josh Hines-Allen, it would make sense to trade for Trey Hendrickson or T.J. Watt. But that's no the case. You could argue that they need to bolster their rotation, but that point becomes moot when you take into account that the Jags brought in Emmanuel Ogbah, Derrick Gardeck, and Dawuane Smoot after the 2025 draft.
And tha'ts the thing, Jacksonville wasn't in need of a star pass rusher but rather a couple pieces to round out their rotation. The trio of Ogbah, Gradick, and Smoot will accomplish that. But even if the Jags wanted to acquire either Watt or Hendrickson, it wouldn't be feasible from a cap perspective.
Leaving aside that Walker is already eligible for a contract and Hines-Allen got a monster extension last year, Hendrick and Watt will want top-market compensation. Given that the Jags will surely want to take care of their own pass rushers, fitting either Hendrickson or Watt in the budget would be a massive challenge.
On top of that, the Jaguars would need to part ways with at least a first-rounder, maybe two (or a second-round selection) in exchange for Watt or Hendrickson. This is a hassle when you consider that they already gave up their first-round pick in 2026 when they traded for Travis Hunter.
When you add it all up, the Jaguars would be paying a steep price for a luxury they don't need. Simply put, it doesn't make sense to inquire about Hendrickson or Watt. They can afford to sit both of them out.
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