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Abhinav Sharma

Ranking Top 5 Landing Spot for Trey Hendrickson amid Bengals star's ongoing contract dispute

The Cincinnati Bengals went into the 2025 offseason with a clear priority: lock down their cornerstone trio, wideouts Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, along with star edge rusher Trey Hendrickson, on long-term deals. While the offense got its payday with both Chase and Higgins securing major extensions, Hendrickson is still waiting at the altar, and the silence from the front office is growing louder.

The All-Pro defensive end broke his silence on Monday, telling ESPN he hasn't heard a word from the Bengals since the conclusion of the NFL Draft in April. According to Hendrickson, Cincinnati is walking back on its word from last year to revisit his contract: "Rather than using collaboration to ... bring me home to the team, they are no longer communicating," he said. "I have been eagerly awaiting a resolution of this situation, but that's hard to do when there is no discussion and an evident lack of interest in reaching mutual goals."

This tension isn't exactly new. Just two months ago, reports surfaced that the Bengals had given Hendrickson the green light to pursue a trade. It's a familiar dance, the veteran pass rusher also asked out before the 2024 season, only to return and dominate the league with an NFL-best 17.5 sacks. Whether this rift ends in reconciliation or a split remains to be seen, but for now, Hendrickson remains in limbo.

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  • NFC Wild Card Playoffs: Green Bay Packers v Philadelphia EaglesGetty Images Sport

    5Green Bay Packers

    Meanwhile in Green Bay, the Packers are still searching for a steady partner to line up opposite Rashan Gary after parting ways with Preston Smith during the 2024 campaign. Lukas Van Ness continues to develop, but inserting a proven force like Hendrickson into that mix could take the unit to the next level. With more than $31 million in cap space for 2025, the Packers have the financial firepower to make it work.

    They went offense-heavy in the draft to support Jordan Love, grabbing two wideouts early — now it might be time to even the scales by reinforcing the pass rush.

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    4Indianapolis Colts

    The Colts invested heavily in Laiatu Latu during last year's draft, and Kwity Paye has held his ground as a reliable presence on the opposite edge. Still, Indianapolis finished a disappointing 25th in sacks during the 2024 campaign, an area crying out for a spark.

    Enter Lou Anarumo, the team's new defensive coordinator, who just so happens to be the same architect behind the Bengals defense that pried Hendrickson away from New Orleans. Anarumo was at the helm for every one of Hendrickson’s dominant seasons in the AFC North, and a reunion in Indy could be the jolt this pass rush desperately needs.

  • Montreal Canadiens v Washington Capitals - Game FiveGetty Images Sport

    3Washington Commanders

    The Commanders went all-in this offseason, swinging trades for Deebo Samuel and Laremy Tunsil to supercharge their offense. But there's still a glaring hole in Dan Quinn's defensive front: a true edge presence.

    While Washington leaned into secondary help early in the 2025 draft with Trey Amos stepping in at corner, adding a game-wrecking pass rusher like Hendrickson could be the missing piece. Pairing him with Dorance Armstrong and the rest of Quinn’s front seven would give the Commanders’ defense some real bite.

  • San Francisco 49ers v Arizona CardinalsGetty Images Sport

    2Arizona Cardinals

    The Arizona Cardinals have gone all-in on bolstering their defensive front this offseason. GM Monti Ossenfort made a splash by locking up Josh Sweat with a four-year, $76.4 million deal, and then doubled down in the draft by grabbing Walter Nolen to fortify the interior and adding edge rusher Jordan Burch in Round 3 for added depth.

    But there's still a fair bit of projection in this group. How soon can Burch make a real impact? BJ Ojulari is coming off a serious injury, Darius Robinson managed just 183 snaps in his rookie campaign, and Zaven Collins has yet to prove he's cut out for life on the edge. Ossenfort clearly believes in their potential, but adding a proven force like Trey Hendrickson would give Arizona a much-needed insurance policy. For a defensive-minded coach like Jonathan Gannon, that kind of move would be music to his ears.

  • Chicago Bears v Detroit LionsGetty Images Sport

    1Detroit Lions

    The Detroit Lions continue to circle one of the NFL's premier pass rushers, and with the latest noise coming out of Trey Hendrickson’s camp, the trade chatter is only heating up.

    Hendrickson, who had already floated a trade request earlier this offseason, made headlines again Monday when he told ESPN the Bengals haven’t reached out to him since the NFL Draft. That radio silence from Cincinnati’s front office suggests any hopes of a new contract are fading fast — and a change of scenery could be right around the corner.

    Enter Detroit. The Lions have long been seen as a strong landing spot, especially with a glaring need for help on the edge. Hendrickson, fresh off a First Team All-Pro season and an eye-popping 17.5 sacks, would be a monster addition opposite Aidan Hutchinson, giving Detroit a terrifying tandem that could wreck backfields for years to come.

    Yes, there are some salary cap puzzles to solve, but the Lions do have flexibility heading into 2025. If they’re serious about making a Super Bowl push, pulling the trigger on Hendrickson could be the bold move that tips the scales.