Some big-name players have already requested a trade this offseason. D.K. Metcalf is the most-linked big-name player to the Green Bay Packers. However, according to NFL.com, the Packers are a potential landing spot for a different star player.
Trey Hendrickson requested a trade from the Cincinnati Bengals. Hendrickson is coming off another monster season in which he led the NFL in sacks with 17.5. It was the second season in a row that Hendrickson racked up 17.5 sacks.
The Bengals have granted the All-Pro permission to seek a trade. Cincinnati has already franchise-tagged wide receiver Tee Higgins. With Hendrickson almost certainly due for a massive payday, it’s not surprising Cincinnati is having to make tough decisions like potentially trading him.
Every team would love to have Hendrickson. But per NFL.com, the Packers could be a serious suitor.
Preston Smith requested a trade and was granted his freedom from Jeff Hafley’s defense during the 2024 season, and while he recorded 7.5 sacks, Rashan Gary seemed to have a bit of an issue finding a fit in the scheme, too. He could use a running mate in Hendrickson, who would take away some of the attention paid to him by opposing defenses and raise the overall ceiling of this unit in 2025. Green Bay can afford Hendrickson, too, and while many folks are focused on its situation at receiver right now, acquiring Hendrickson would also make a ton of sense — and perhaps a bigger splash in the end.
Adding Hendrickson would be a massive boost for any team lucky enough to win the sweepstakes. For Green Bay, it could be the final piece of the puzzle for an already stout defense.
If defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley could point to any one thing that needs to be better on his side of the ball, getting pressure on the quarterback just rushing four tops the charts.
The Packers went through long droughts last season where one quarterback after another had a clean pocket for nearly 60 minutes. Don’t be fooled by the two insanely good outings against the Tennessee Titans and Seattle Seahawks that propped up Green Bay’s overall sack numbers.
The Packers still have more questions than answers on the defensive edge. Getting Hendrickson would be a huge step toward clearing those up.