The Cincinnati Bengals suffered a crushing loss to the New York Jets in Week 8 of the NFL season.
With their playoff hopes fading, speculation has mounted about whether they will be sellers at the trade deadline.
Veterans with expiring contracts could be attractive to contenders, but reports suggest Cincinnati has no intention of moving edge rusher Trey Hendrickson.
Analyst Peter Schrager offered a different perspective, saying he believes Hendrickson remains a legitimate candidate to be moved.
“I think Trey Hendrickson is a very viable option to be traded, based on what you see on paper. This is a guy whose making reasonable money. He’s in the final year of a contract. He’s already been unhappy,” Schrager said.
“I think Trey Hendrickson is a very viable option to be traded.”
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Schrager mentioned the Indianapolis Colts, who have former Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo on staff, as a potential destination that could provide Hendrickson with a fresh start.
He also mentioned the San Francisco 49ers as another fit, noting their injury-depleted defense could benefit from adding a pass rusher of his caliber.
Beyond those teams, the Detroit Lions and Philadelphia Eagles could pursue Hendrickson to strengthen their Super Bowl chances.
Hendrickson and the Bengals resolved a contract standoff after a lengthy negotiation this offseason.
The revised deal added $14 million to his 2025 salary, bringing it to $30 million before he can become a free agent.
The agreement was a short-term resolution rather than a long-term commitment.
If Cincinnati viewed Hendrickson as a cornerstone piece, a multiyear extension would already be finalized.
Instead, his contract situation and the team’s record create a scenario where trading him before the deadline could be the sensible move rather than risking losing him for nothing.
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