Trey Hendrickson, Cincinnati Bengals’ premier pass rusher, sought a trade on April 24th. The development comes after ESPN’s Adam Schefter claimed that Hendrickson is unhappy with the team’s refusal to meet his demands for a long-term deal. Personally, he has every right to demand a new contract. Hendrickson has reached the Pro Bowl every year with the Bengals and is third in the NFL with 53 sacks over the last four years. With all of the uncertainty surrounding Hendrickson, Bleacher Report’s Adam Wells feels the Chicago Bears should pursue a trade for the three-time Pro Bowler.
According to Bleacher Report, the Bears have expressed interest in trading for Trey Hendrickson.
Does trading for another pass rusher make sense for the Bears?
The Bears have traded a second-round selection from the 2023-24 season for pass rusher Montez Sweat. A transaction that moved the defense from worst to first was a bad move for the Bears. Is it worth spending additional draft money on another player in the same position? Absolutely. The Bears urgently need another pass rusher to complement Sweat, who can produce pressure and sacks on his own. Trading for Trey Hendrickson would immediately address the Bears’ main defensive weakness and form one of the top pass-rushing duos in the NFL.
The Bears still have around $23 million in salary space and the draft capital required for a player of Hendrickson’s level. The larger issue is if the Bengals are willing to split ways with Hendrickson. With Super Bowl hopes and a talented quarterback, the Bengals rely heavily on Hendrickson. It looks that acquiring him would need a significant amount of draft money
Is Trey Hendrickson worth trading for?
Trey Hendrickson participated in all 17 Bengals games last season, totaling 43 tackles, 17.5 sacks, and three forced fumbles. Hendrickson also recorded 109 total tackles, 39.5 sacks, and nine forced fumbles throughout his three seasons with the Bengals. The Bears’ high draft capital is well spent on acquiring one of the most effective edge rushers.
It is vital to know that the Bengals are facing financial difficulties. With quarterback Joe Burrow on a five-year, $275 million contract and top wide outs Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins reportedly pursuing a hefty extension, paying an edge rusher approaching 30 years old may not be in the Bengals’ plans.
Why the Bears Should Go All-In On Trey Hendrickson
If the Bengals opt to spend their money elsewhere, the Bears should move quickly to sign Hendrickson. The Bears, like the Bengals, have put together a playoff-caliber group. All that remains for Chicago is to locate the last piece of the puzzle: another pass rusher. Having a pass-rushing combo capable of posting double-digit sack totals will give rival attacks nightmares. The Bears also gave rookie quarterback Caleb Williams time to acclimate to the NFL by starting him in a favorable field position. If the Bears think they are one piece away from becoming a Super Bowl contender, they should not hesitate to make a play for Hendrickson.
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