Trade speculation surrounding Cincinnati Bengals defensive lineman Trey Hendrickson has abounded of late, especially with quarterback Joe Burrow out with a turf toe injury.
If the Bengals do move Hendrickson before the NFL trade deadline in November, the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles could come calling. USA Today’s Nate Davis named the Eagles as a “team to watch” among potential suitors for Hendrickson.
“They were linked to Myles Garrett and Micah Parsons earlier this year and could certainly use a veteran pass rusher after losing Super Bowl 59 hero Josh Sweat in free agency,” Davis wrote. “Also, OLB Nolan Smith just landed on IR.”
Philly’s challenge will be affording Hendrickson, as Bengals fans know all too well. Hendrickson has a one-year, $29 million deal with the Bengals, and he has been seeking a bigger contract all year.
A Look at the Trey Hendrickson Saga
Getty Trey Hendrickson has been immersed in contract drama with the Bengals all year.
Cincinnati acquired Hendrickson in 2021 as a free agent when he signed a four-year, $60 million deal. That has paid off for the Bengals with three seasons of 14 or more sacks, but Hendrickson’ asking price has been steep for the team, amid his strong production.
“He had an eventful summer, briefly holding out from training camp amid protracted negotiations with the team to agree on the raise both Hendrickson and the Bengals acknowledged he deserved after leading the NFL with 35 sacks over the 2023 and ’24 seasons,” Davis wrote. “Still, even though Hendrickson could now make up to $30 million in 2025, he’s nevertheless scheduled to walk in 2026.”
“Clearly, the Bengals didn’t pay him to trade him and have historically not been inclined to make splashy in-season moves. But Cincinnati, which did deal QB Carson Palmer during the 2011 campaign, also didn’t know two weeks ago that it would likely be without injured QB Joe Burrow for most of, if not the remainder of, the 2025 season.”
“And if the Bengals D is going to continue looking as bad as it did last Sunday in Minnesota, why not move on from Hendrickson, 30, at a time when his production could still warrant a nice return given he’ll very likely be on the move in a few months anyway,” Davis added.
How a Trey Hendrickson Trade With Philadelphia Could Look
If the Bengals do trade Hendrickson to the Eagles, here’s how it could look based on a trade proposal from ESPN’s Bill Barnwell before the season.
Barnwell proposed that the Eagles could send defensive lineman Jalyx Hunt, a 2026 third-round pick, and a conditional 2027 pick. Cincinnati would get a young talent in Hunt, who had 1.5 sacks and 10 tackles in four games as a rookie in 2024. He has four tackles in three games this season.
Philadelphia selected Hunt with a third-round pick out of Houston Christian, an FCS program. During his time at Houston Christian and Cornell, Hunt tallied 133 tackles, 13.5 sacks, an interception, and five forced fumbles across five collegiate seasons.
How much Hunt can develop is the unknown for the Bengals if that’s who the Eagles offer. In addition, the Bengals might not find comparable talent with a third-round pick or conditional pick, depending on where it falls, in comparison to what the team will lose with Hendrickson’s departure.
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