The overwhelming belief has been that the Cincinnati Bengals won't trade Trey Hendrickson at the deadline.
That's because countless reports have suggested the Bengals don't intend to trade their best defender as they try to weather the storm and keep themselves in postseason contention until Joe Burrow gets back from injury.
However, after the glimmer of hope Joe Flacco provided faded with the loss to the New York Jets last week, many are now wondering if that could change if the Bengals fall to 3-6 with another loss to the Chicago Bears in Week 9.
And there's now some smoke to that notion.
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, some people around the league are wondering if the Bengals might change their stance on trading Hendrickson with another loss on Sunday, even though Cincinnati continues to tell teams it isn't trading the star edge rusher.
"The Bengals have told teams they don't intend to trade Trey Hendrickson, sources told ESPN. But if the Bengals lose Sunday to the Bears and drop to 3-6, there are some sources who have wondered if that might be enough to change Cincinnati's stance," Schefter reported on Saturday night.
We know things are contentious between Hendrickson and the Bengals after the two sides failed to get a contract extension done, which left the four-time Pro Bowler disgruntled, and so much so he was given permission to seek a trade.
On the surface, that leaves the Bengals at least somewhat in danger of losing him for nothing in free agency in 2026, but Cincinnati has the option of using the franchise tag on Hendrickson, so they have some control over him next year.
Regardless, three teams to keep an eye on if Hendrickson is made available are the Dallas Cowboys, San Francisco 49ers and Philadelphia Eagles.
All three teams desperately need more help along the edge, and the Cowboys and 49ers have been linked to interest in Hendrickson via rumors.
The Eagles haven't been rumored to be pursuing Hendrickson, but we know general manager Howie Roseman is always in the mix for a big trade and rumors suggest he's even aiming as high as a Myles Garrett trade.
We ultimately don't believe Hendrickson will be moved, but there appears to be a better chance it happens than there previously was.
NFL Trade Rumors