The Cowboys grabbed most of the headlines this past week due to Micah Parsons‘ holdout. But, the status of Bengals star edge rusher Trey Hendrickson is also still up in the air. Hendrickson eventually showed up to training camp, but he’s still in street clothes while awaiting a new contract. With their first preseason game just a few days away, the Falcons have been urged to pursue several players, including Hendrickson, who can bolster their depth at key positions.
Bengals Star Trey Hendrickson Headlines List of Top Five Trade Pieces to Pursue
The Falcons invested heavily along their defensive line this offseason. But, PFF still ranks their unit near the bottom of the league. While Atlanta added veterans Leonard Floyd and Morgan Fox, most analysts believe the Falcons pass rush hasn’t improved enough.
It’s hard to imagine a player who would have as much of a positive impact as Trey Hendrickson. My colleague already covered the Parsons trade scenario yesterday, so let’s dive into Hendrickson.
Grayson Freestone covers the Falcons for FanSided on Blogging Dirty. This morning, Freestone compiled a list of the top five players that Atlanta should pursue as the offseason winds down. Unsurprisingly, Trey Hendrickson took the top spot.
“Trey Hendrickson will be headlining trade lists until the Bengals can decide on whether they want to pay him or trade him,” Freestone wrote. “For the Falcons’ sake, they hope it is the latter,” he continued.
It’s entirely possible that Hendrickson signs a new deal with the Bengals and stays in Cincinnati. But, as of now, the two sides have yet to come to an agreement.
Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio believes that the Bengals “presumably aren’t thrilled” about the pass rusher’s hold-in, as evidenced by his place on the Bengals depth chart.
While he’s inarguably one of the top pass rushers in the league, Trey Hendrickson is currently listed at No. 3. As of now, Joseph Ossai and Cam Sample occupy the No. 1 and No. 2 spots. If Hendrickson and the Bengals come to an agreement, he will immediately take the No. 1 spot. But, that’s no guarantee.
According to Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio, “The issue remains the structure and the guarantees.”
“It’s unclear whether the Bengals are fining Hendrickson for not practicing,” wrote Florio. “It is clear that the start of the season is coming soon,” he continued.
Trey Hendrickson has recorded a league-leading 35 sacks over the past two seasons, notching 17.5 in each. The Falcons only recorded 31 sacks as a team last year, and it’s been nearly a decade since a Falcon has notched double-digit sacks.
Atlanta is among the teams who would benefit the most from adding an elite pass rusher like Hendrickson. As Freestone wrote, Trey Hendrickson “could be the massive cherry on top of the position’s retooling.”
Other Trade Targets Include a Pair of Top-10 Picks
While Trey Hendrickson is the most sought-after player on the list, Freestone included two top-10 picks: Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis and New York Giants pass rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux.
A trade for Thibodeaux would likely require the Falcons to give up a significant amount of assets. But, it’s worth a shot to check in on the market for a player Freestone calls “a phenomenal rotational piece.”
“While he might not have Hendrickson’s resume, he is still young and has the talent to become a similar player,” Freestone wrote. “He has shown real flashes of becoming the league’s next dominant pass rusher,” he continued.
While Will Levis underwent season-ending shoulder surgery this offseason, Freestone suggests that the Falcons “should buy while the stock is low.”
“They can stash him on the injured reserve with the hopes he can become a solid backup to Michael Penix Jr. after Kirk Cousins moves on,” Freestone wrote.
Finally, Freestone included Chicago Bears tight end Cole Kmet as another possible trade target. The Bears selected tight end Colston Loveland with the No. 10 overall pick during this April’s draft, signaling that Chicago may be ready to move on. The Falcons have their own first-round pick that they may be ready to move on from: tight end Kyle Pitts.
“Whether or not the Falcons trade Kyle Pitts remains to be seen, but one thing is for sure: they need to find his replacement because his days in Atlanta are dwindling,” Freestone wrote.
We’ll see what happens with Trey Hendrickson as we move closer to the the start of the regular season. But, if the star edge rusher is available, the Falcons should immediately check the price.
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