The Cincinnati Bengals look like potential sellers at the NFL trade deadline on Nov. 4, and that could mean star edge Trey Hendrickson will join another team as the Bengals look to free up salary cap space.
Pro Football Focus’ Bradley Locker named four different playoff contenders whom the Bengals (2-4) could trade Hendrickson to and build for the future. The San Francisco 49ers (4-2), Detroit Lions (4-2), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-1), and Kansas City Chiefs (3-3) could all use help on the edge.
“Even though Hendrickson signed a one-year, $29 million contract to remain in Cincinnati this offseason, it doesn’t feel like this song and dance is done just yet,” Locker wrote. “The 2024 All-Pro has been fabulous as usual with a 90.3 PFF pass-rushing grade and an 86.5 overall mark, yet the Bengals’ defense still ranks 29th in EPA per play.”
“With Cincinnati staring down a 2-4 record and likely a lost season with no Joe Burrow until at least December, the Bengals very well may go the route of selling at the trade deadline,” Locker continued. “There’s no asset more valuable than Hendrickson, especially if he’s not in Cincinnati’s long-term plans.”
“The 49ers need a true EDGE1 after Nick Bosa’s torn ACL, while the Lions could still use a legitimate running mate next to Aidan Hutchinson — although Al-Quadin Muhammad (86.2 PFF pass-rushing grade) has impressed,” Locker concluded.
Bengals Could Also Trade Safety Geno Stone
Similar to Hendrickson, Cincinnati could find trade partners for safety Geno Stone in time for the trade deadline. Locker listed the Washington Commanders (3-3), Buffalo Bills (4-2), and Houston Texans (2-3) as possible trade fits.
“Since inking a two-year, $14 million deal to join the Bengals, Stone’s play has taken an unimaginably spiral. Among safeties to play 1,000 or more snaps over the last two seasons, Stone’s 56.6 overall PFF grade is the eighth-lowest,” Locker wrote. “However, there have been some reasons for optimism this year, including his 76.2 PFF run-defense grade and 7.7% missed tackle rate.”
“Assuming the Bengals will wave the white flag on their 2025 season, Stone would be a player from which to move on,” Locker continued. “The pending free agent would look to regain 2023 form on a team like the Commanders and Bills, each of whom ranks 26th or worse in overall PFF grade for safeties.”
Bengals’ Season Hinges on Thursday Night Game Against Steelers
Already in a hole, the Bengals play at home against the Pittsburgh Steelers (4-1) on Thursday night to kick off Week 7, and it’s a must-win game for Cincinnati.
A loss would only solidify the Bengals as trade deadline sellers. That said, Cincinnati is trying to salvage the season until Burrow gets healthy with last week’s trade for veteran quarterback Joe Flacco, who threw for 219 yards and two touchdowns in Sunday’s loss to the Green Bay Packers.
“You don’t have a lot of time to lick your wounds here. It is more of a mental week this week, but what a tremendous opportunity,” Bengals head coach Zac Taylor told reporters on Sunday. “Look at where our division is at. What a tremendous opportunity to go get the team that is leading it right now, and our first opportunity at home, in primetime.”
“They have a short week. We have a short week. So it’s a fair playing field. They are going to come in here with a lot of confidence, obviously, with the way they have won their games and we are going to find a way to get up for it and do everything we can to find a win,” Taylor concluded.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Bengals’ Trey Hendrickson a Trade Fit With 4 Different Contenders appeared first on Heavy Sports.