The Trey Hendrickson saga has lasted well over a year for the Cincinnati Bengals. The pass rusher who has 35 sacks over the last two seasons is on the field and playing for the team, but the long-term situation is certainly up in the air. Could the Bengals continue to shop the four-time Pro Bowler ahead of the NFL trade deadline?
Which NFL Teams Could Trade For Trey Hendrickson Before The Deadline?
Here are three possible trade scenarios for where Hendrickson might end up if traded, and what kind of package that Cincinnati would receive in return.
San Francisco 49ers
- 2026 2nd Round Pick (proj. 61st overall)
- 2026 4th Round Pick (proj. 138th overall)
Given the depleting injuries to their top defensive players, the 49ers could be looking to bolster their front seven ahead of the NFL trade deadline. Their pass rush has taken a hit since Nick Bosa was lost for the season, and they currently rank 30th in the league in total QB sacks. They have been mentioned as suitors for many of the pass rushers rumored to be available, and that includes Hendrickson.
But are the 49ers in a position to offer Hendrickson a new contract? They already have high-priced deals in place with many of their star players, and he might not fit the long-term plans in San Francisco. With him being 31 years old, he wouldn’t help in making an aging team any younger.
In exchange for Hendrickson, the 49ers could send a second round pick. They could add a fourth rounder, which they are scheduled to have three of in 2026.
Dallas Cowboys
- 2026 2nd Round Pick (proj. 47th overall)
- 2027 4th Round Pick
The Cowboys famously traded away their All-Pro pass rusher just before the start of the season. They do have 15 sacks as a team through their first seven games, which ranks in the middle of the pack, but it is no secret that Dallas could use some help in that department. They’ve been mentioned in rumors regarding nearly every pass rusher that is available on the trade market, but would they pay the high price that Hendrickson will command?
Contract negotiations have taken over Cowboys offseasons for some time now, and adding Hendrickson would create yet another issue for the front office. It is unlikely that Dallas would meet his high demands, given that they traded away Micah Parsons (who is five years younger) for the same seasons.
The Cowboys have two first round picks thanks to that Parsons trade, but it is unlikely that any team will be willing to spend that much in a trade given Hendrickson’s contract demands. But if Jerry Jones were to pull something like this off, it might cost him second and fourth round selections.
Philadelphia Eagles
- 2026 3rd Round Pick (90th overall)
- 2026 3rd Round Pick (98th overall)
The Eagles saw their defensive front become depleted during the offseason, thanks to player departures and retirements. They, like the 49ers, are in the bottom five in the league when it comes to total sacks through seven weeks, a year after finishing in the middle of the pack. The team is hoping that the return of Brandon Graham will help them get after the quarterback, but they made need to take a bigger swing to bolster the edges if they want to make another Super Bowl run.
Trading for Hendrickson would be one of the biggest swings of them all. While they’d have to figure out the financial situation, Philadelphia certainly has the draft capital to be able to make a move. Thanks to the Haason Reddick trade, the Eagles own three third round picks in 2026, including what could end up being the top pick of the round.
