The edge rush position will be one to watch closely as the 2025 offseason unfolds. Myles Garrett is seeking a move out of Cleveland, while the Cowboys have given thought to the idea of a potential Micah Parsons trade. 
Those defensive ends have company in terms of needing lucrative new deals in the near future and therefore find themselves as targets for teams looking for upgrades in the pass-rush department. Maxx Crosby (Raiders) as well as Trey Hendrickson (Bengals) are names to monitor on the trade market. That will especially be the case if Garrett – whom the Browns have no intention of moving – and Parsons remain with their respective teams.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler writes Crosby and Hendrickson would be expected to draw notable trade interest if one or both were to become available. The former has two more years on his deal with $21.92MM owed in 2025 and ’26. None of Crosby’s base salaries in that span are guaranteed, though, so he could look to again land a new pact featuring significant up front compensation.
With Vegas struggling this past season, Crosby was named as a potential trade candidate. Owner Mark Davis unequivocally shot down speculation on that front in October, but the team is coming off a 4-13 campaign and does not have a long-term solution at the quarterback spot. Crosby, 27, has seen his team make the playoffs just once in his six NFL seasons despite racking up 59.5 sacks during that time. The four-time Pro Bowler was limited to 12 games by an ankle injury, but his durability during the rest of his career – coupled with his high-end production – would make him an attractive target to any number of suitors.
Hendrickson requested a trade last offseason after his efforts to secure a raise were unsuccessful. The Bengals made it clear they would not look to move him, and the 30-year-old ultimately reported to the team during training camp without issue. Hendrickson delivered another strong season in 2024, leading the NFL with 17.5 sacks. A notable raise is in store as a result, something de facto general manager Duke Tobin is well aware of and quarterback Joe Burrow would be on board with.
Knowing the financial situation Cincinnati is in (wideouts Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins are in need of lucrative new pacts), Hendrickson is open to securing his next contract via trade. The All-Pro could approach or surpass the $30MM-per-year mark, per Fowler, something which would no doubt be more likely on a short-term pact than a lengthy accord. Still, the All-Pro’s production (57 sacks in 65 Bengals games) would be a welcomed addition for teams with the draft capital and cap space needed to pull off a trade and extension. Echoing Fowler’s report, Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network note a strong market will exist for Hendrickson if he becomes available.
Nick Bosa‘s $34MM AAV with the 49ers currently leads the way for edge rushers (and all defenders) at the top of the market. Several players could surpass that mark in the coming weeks and months, especially if the Raiders and Bengals are unwilling to meet the asking price Crosby and/or Hendrickson submit this offseason. Against the backdrop of other potential movement amongst high-prolife edge rushers, their respective situations will make for intriguing offseason storylines.
At this point, I’m shocked the Bengals owner OKed a Burrow extension with how cheap he is
As in any business, added expenses get passed on to the customers. You don’t mind paying $50 for a hot dog and beer do you?
The players could play for free and the owners would still charge what they charge, cause they know people will pay
Pretending owners want to give it away for free and it’s the players stopping them is farcical
Lemon that’s not how things work.
The rich get richer at someone’s expense right? That’s how it’s always worked.
Yeah, the Bengals owners get richer at the expense of nickel and diming the team. But hot dog prices don’t go up based on whether or not a team spends competitively.
There’s a salary cap…
There’s a cap, but teams find different ways of spending within it, and cash spending is different from cap. The Bengals spent $75 million less in cash than the Eagles last season, for instance. They also spend less on uncapped things than perhaps any team in football.
EZ- The Bengals haven’t been cheap in years. What you call cheap is cautious. When they do spend cash they generally get burned. Trent Brown and Sheldon Rankings were pretty much useless this year. Chase didn’t get signed last year because he tried to show up the owner by sitting out. You don’t try that with Mike Brown because he will let you know who signs your paycheck. I get so tired of people yelling about how cheap the Bengals are when they have no idea . If they’re so cheap why don’t they have the most cap space? You don’t have a 55 million dollar QB and 35 million dollar wide receiver if you’re cheap.
“You don’t have a $55 million QB and 35 million wide receiver if you’re cheap.” Except they haven’t paid him $35 million. The Bengals aren’t as cheap as they used to be, but they’re still one of the cheapest teams in football. They limit themselves with the guarantees they’re not willing to commit, they drag out extensions on homegrown stars as long as possible, either extending guys late (Burrow, presumably Chase) or letting them walk away when they’re not willing to spend (Bates, presumably Higgins). They also have the smallest scouting staff in football and were the last team in the league to build an indoor practice facility, which didn’t happen until after making a Super Bowl.
You’re right, Guess they’re going to let Chase and Higgins walk. So that frees up 60 million right there. Mike Brown is headed for the vault to put the 60 mill in the vault right now. Bates was good, but not worth what he got.And after they got the indoor practice field the fans, not from Cincinnati,but all the experts in Cleveland, Indianapolis, and Carolina were crying about the players having to walk across the street. Oh no, boohoo, they have to cross the street. It’s because the practice field is built downtown and there are a lot of restrictions on building walkways across existing streets. Then they’d crab because there were stairs.
Hendrickson not getting $30 mil plus a yr at that age
He probably should get 30 million plus but only on a three year deal or shorter because of his age. The guy just led the league in sacks on a defense that had no other playmaker for opposing offenses to worry about stopping.
Last year was a heavy wr off-season. This will be all about edge rushers.
100%. Garrett, Parsons, Crosby, Hendrickson all want off teams who are bad. Any playoff team who is willing to pay the piper will be able to get one.
Hendrickson has said he would prefer to stay in Cincy but trade him if there’s no extension.
Also , I get your theory on Garrett and Crosby but Hendrickson and Parsons I would not classify as bad teams. Both Cincinnati and Dallas are closer to the playoffs than the bottom of the league. Quite a bit closer than Cleveland or Las Vegas
Both have very bad owners who sabotage their own teams though. Even if their qb is good enough to get them to the playoffs, they won’t win it all and their roster won’t stay good.
I’ll be mad if the Bears are interested in either one of these guys or anybody like them. By that I mean guys you have to trade ASSETS for and PAY too. The Bears can’t afford to lose any picks and money for any one person. Garrett or any of them. Just keep the picks, and sign whoever only costs money. Just spend money better than you have been.
The Bears aren’t even interested in finding a cheap upgrade for a 40 yr old TE. I don’t think you have to worry about them pursuing a player like Garrett who could be a game changer.
I know everybody is on this Ben Johnson high right now( Me Too BTW), But now isn’t the time to go all in on one guy. One only has to think back on good ole Ryan Pace when he got the job and went all in on Khalil Mack and that was gonna make the difference and lead to good things. We all know how that turned out. The Bears are not one player away. They’d be much better off keeping those first 4 draft picks and drafting 4 players instead of trading 2 for 1 guy. The Bears are in a decent place right now. Don’t blow it this time.