Trey Hendrickson

Jerry Jones: Cowboys Have Trade In Place; More Deals Being Explored

November 3rd, 2025 at 5:38pm CST by Adam La Rose

5:38pm: Jordan Schultz has provided more hints of a potential deal, noting that the Cowboys have discussed trades with multiple teams. Dallas has specifically been targeting defensive players, with a particular focus on pass rushers and linebackers. There’s an expectation that the team will consummate at least one trade tomorrow.

Schultz also provides some potential names, noting that the Cowboys have reached out to the Bengals about DE Trey Hendrickson and LB Logan Wilson and the Dolphins about LB Bradley Chubb. Hendrickson would obviously represent the most expensive investment of that bunch, and the 2024 NFL sacks leader would be able to somewhat fill the gap left by Micah Parsons‘ departure.

Meanwhile, Jones appeared on ESPN’s pregame show this evening. He wouldn’t reveal any additional details about impending deals, but he continued to acknowledge that a trade is in the works.

“The details are tomorrow,” Jones said (via Jon Machota of The Athletic). “… There’s a good chance that we’ll have some things to talk about tomorrow.”

2:40pm: It appears as though the Cowboys’ discussions on the trade front will result in at least one deal being made. During an on-stage appearance on Sirius XM radio Monday, owner Jerry Jones took the unusual step of stating a trade has been made.

“A lot of action going on right now in terms of trading, we certainly have made a trade and we may make a couple more trades before that deadline,” Jones said (via Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News). “We’ve made one. We possibly could make two more and I’m going to wait and let you read about that when we send the papers in tomorrow.”

Based on those comments, the swap Jones is referring to has been agreed upon by all parties but will not be finalized with the league office until Tuesday (which marks the deadline). It will likely not be until that point that the full details of the trade are revealed. Jones did add, however, that the player heading to Dallas via this move will be on the field “immediately” and his addition will “address some of the things that have been our shortcomings.”

It is not difficult to predict this mystery trade is aimed at providing a needed upgrade on defense for the Cowboys. Dallas ranks second in the league in scoring but 31st in points allowed on a per-game basis. Reinforcements will be coming relatively soon in terms of injured players returning to health, including most notably linebacker DeMarvion Overshown working toward his season debut. Still, help in the front seven or the secondary would be welcomed.

Getting Overshown back will be key, although fellow linebacker Jack Sanborn was placed on injured reserve earlier today. His absence will thin out the position for at least the time being. Meanwhile, Dallas sits 30th in the NFL against the pass. Even if rookie cornerback Shavon Revel plays a role once healthy, adding further contributors would be a feasible move. The Cowboys entered Monday with nearly $31MM in cap space.

Mazi Smith was recently named as a player Dallas could be willing to part with in a midseason trade. It will be interesting to see if the underwhelming former first-rounder is included in the return for whomever the Cowboys are set to acquire (or any other moves which are finalized in the next 24 hours). In any case, it seems as though at least one addition will be in place for the stretch run.

Bengals Still Eyeing First-Round Pick For Trey Hendrickson

November 3rd, 2025 at 11:37am CST by Sam Robinson

Two previous waves of Trey Hendrickson trade rumors emerged this year. The Bengals let the All-Pro defensive end seek a trade in March, but they set a high asking price. With no traction on an extension in August, trade buzz resurfaced. Again, Cincinnati did not budge far from its asking price — and the parties regrouped on a 2025 raise.

The Bengals are now 3-6, and their defense has not improved from a rough 2024 season. The team is now the first since the 1970 merger to score a combined 80 points in a two-game span and lose both contests. The second of those setbacks, though, came without Hendrickson in the lineup. But the Bengals are now close to falling out of contention. With Hendrickson not tied to the team beyond 2025, clubs are naturally interested in seeing (again) what it will take to pry the sack ace from Cincinnati.

Even though we are halfway through the season and Hendrickson is a rental chip, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini indicates the Bengals are still informing teams it will take a first-round pick to add Hendrickson. Several teams — including the 49ers, Cowboys and Colts — have inquired, and it appears the Bengals will keep listening. The Eagles also asked on Hendrickson but moved to Jaelan Phillips.

That is a high cost for a rental chip — one that may scuttle any deal — even after Phillips brought back a third. Like Montez Sweat (who fetched the Commanders a second-round pick in 2023, Phillips is on a rookie contract and is in his mid-20s. Hendrickson will turn 31 before season’s end. Bradley Chubb fetched a first-rounder in a 2022 rental trade, and the Bengals are probably eyeing that as a comp. Chubb, though, was 26 when that Broncos-Dolphins trade unfolded. Miami extended Chubb soon after. Hendrickson has been seeking an extension for years, but the Bengals have been reluctant to include guaranteed money beyond Year 1 — a franchise sticking point that has caused drama in this relationship.

In March, it was believed the Bengals were asking for a first-rounder and more for Hendrickson. Teams viewed that as too steep. In August, it was believed Cincy had lowered its asking price. Though, nothing happened. The Bengals had even rejected a trade offer including a second-rounder and change before the draft. The sides then huddled up on a raise, which effectively tabled negotiations until 2026 — when a pricey franchise tag could be in play.

While tagging Hendrickson at $30MM-plus might be a long shot at his age, the Bengals used a tag on A.J. Green when he was 31. Dealing Hendrickson now would end the sides’ five-year partnership and give another team exclusive negotiating rights ahead of free agency. The Bengals, who were believed more likely to retain Hendrickson than dangle him in deals once again, are clearly still planning to place a high price on the decorated EDGE to pass on a potential tag and re-up talks.

A first-rounder will still be too steep, in all likelihood, for interested teams — especially now that Hendrickson has missed two of the past three games with a hip injury. It will be interesting to see if more comes from this, as a price drop could reignite this market. Hendrickson is not the only Bengal drawing interest, per Russini, and Outkick.com’s Armando Salguero adds the view inside the team’s building appears to be shifting toward listening to trade offers — including a potential Hendrickson swap. This echoes a recent report about increased flexibility on the Hendrickson front.

Hendrickson has four sacks this season and posted an NFL-high 35 between the 2023 and ’24 slates, but unless the Bengals reduce their asking price again, he will almost definitely finish a fifth season in western Ohio.

AFC North Rumors: Hendrickson, Njoku, Browns, Ravens

November 2nd, 2025 at 11:30am CST by Rory Parks

Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic recently reported the Bengals would keep DE Trey Hendrickson through Tuesday’s trade deadline, even if they drop their Week 9 matchup with the Bears to fall to 3-6. ESPN’s Adam Schefter offers some pushback on that front.

Notwithstanding Dehner’s report and similar ones that preceded it, Schefter’s sources say a loss to Chicago could indeed change Cincinnati’s calculus. The Bengals will still see themselves as championship contenders in 2026, and trading Hendrickson will deprive them of exclusive negotiating rights with their top defensive player this offseason.

But negotiations between player and team over the past several years have become contentious and have not yielded a new long-term contract, and a franchise tag will surely not sit well with the four-time Pro Bowler. As such, it would not be surprising if the teams that have already attempted to pry Hendrickson from Cincinnati keep trying to do so, and those efforts may well intensify if the Bengals lose the Chicago contest.

Now for more AFC North trade rumors:

TE David Njoku has been mentioned as a trade candidate, and while the Browns want to keep as many talented pass catchers as possible in the fold in order to properly evaluate their young signal-callers, SI.com’s Albert Breer believes the right offer could convince them to pull the trigger on Njoku (Breer says Cleveland would also want Njoku to sign off on such a deal). In the same report cited above, Schefter says the Browns are not only disinclined to move Njoku, but that they could actually be aggressive deadline buyers.
Despite sitting at 3-5, the Ravens are the betting favorites to win the AFC North, so they could look to strengthen their roster at the deadline rather than sell off players on expiring deals. Cornerback had already been identified as an area of need, and Dianna Russini of The Athletic (subscription required) recently reiterated that point. The Athletic colleague Dan Duggan names the Giants’ Deonte Banks – a Baltimore native who has seen a dramatic reduction in playing time this year – as a possible target (though Duggan suggests a Banks trade may be more likely in the offseason).
Although they are in the market for a CB addition, the Ravens have jettisoned Jaire Alexander to the Eagles in exchange for a minimal return, which is reflective of Alexander’s brief and disappointing Baltimore tenure.
A club that has been among the most aggressive in seeking a wide receiver, a recent report confirmed the Steelers are still on the lookout for WR help. They have inquired about Raiders wideout Jakobi Meyers, who is arguably the top trade candidate at the position.

Bengals Likely In For Quiet Trade Deadline

November 1st, 2025 at 2:43pm CST by Connor Byrne

Sitting in second place in a winnable AFC North, the 3-5 Bengals let an opportunity to make up ground on the division-leading Steelers slip away last week. Hours before the Steelers fell to 4-3 against the Packers on Sunday night, the Bengals dropped a 39-38 shootout to the Jets, who entered the game 0-7.

The Bengals will have a chance to bounce back Sunday against the Bears in their last game before Tuesday’s trade deadline. Despite dealing with an AC joint sprain in his throwing shoulder, quarterback Joe Flacco is expected to start.

Regardless of the outcome against Chicago, it appears the Bengals are in for a quiet deadline. They’re “highly unlikely to make a move” to bring in more outside talent after already acquiring Flacco from the Browns last month, according to Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic. The Bengals also received a sixth-round pick in the Flacco deal, but they parted with a fifth-rounder in return.

The team took a flier on Flacco in a season-saving effort after losing starter Joe Burrow to a toe injury and seeing backup signal-caller Jake Browning perform poorly in his place. Cincinnati is “extremely hesitant to ever surrender future picks,” Dehner writes, making it unlikely that it will cough up even more draft capital in the next few days.

On paper, a loss to the Bears could make the Bengals more likely to sell. With that in mind, superstar pass rusher Trey Hendrickson, linebacker Logan Wilson, and cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt are on the radar of contending teams. The Rams, 49ers, Lions, Colts, and Eagles are among the clubs that have made calls on those players, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports. It appears they’ll have to look elsewhere, though.

Hendrickson is a pending free agent who would bring back a quality return in a trade, but Dehner dismisses the possibility of the Bengals dealing him. They’ve shown no willingness to punt a season in early November to acquire future draft choices, per Dehner. That would rule out a Hendrickson trade.

The Bengals have at least given some consideration to parting with Wilson, Albert Breer of SI.com relays. With rookies Demetrius Knight and Barrett Carter eating into his playing time, Wilson requested a deal out of Cincinnati last week. He’s probably not going to get his way, though, with Dehner pointing to his pricey contract (he’s under wraps through 2027 on a four-year, $36MM extension) and his role in the Bengals’ defense as reasons why he’ll stay put. There’s a better chance of the Bengals getting rid of Wilson after the season than during it.

Like Hendrickson and Wilson, Dehner expects Taylor-Britt to finish the season in Cincinnati. The free agent-to-be was a healthy scratch in a win over the Steelers in Week 7, but he returned to play 76% of defensive snaps against the Jets. The Bengals still value him as their No. 3 corner over their options.

While a Burrow return sometime in December would be a best-case scenario, the Bengals will likely need to stay in the playoff race for that to become a realistic possibility. For better or worse, it doesn’t appear that their roster will undergo any significant changes in the meantime.

Bengals Unlikely To Trade Trey Hendrickson

October 22nd, 2025 at 10:12pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Bengals deviated from their general stance against in-season trades for players by acquiring Joe Flacco from the Browns. To the chagrin of Mike Tomlin, that trade has already proven beneficial — after the Bengals upended the Steelers in Week 7.

Prior to that game, a host of Trey Hendrickson rumors emerged. Cincinnati is not typically helpful for buyers at the trade deadline, either, though Hendrickson’s contract-year status naturally influenced contenders to closely monitor this situation. With the Bengals now 3-4, do not expect them to part with their best defensive player.

A Hendrickson trade will not happen, according to The Athletic’s Paul Dehner Jr. The Bengals would lose their right to keep Hendrickson via the franchise tag by moving him now, and with the team having narrowed its AFC North deficit (in a season that has brought a stunning 1-5 Ravens start), it makes sense for the typically rigid team to hold tight here.

If a club were to acquire Hendrickson, the Bengals also may not be especially helpful in terms of picking up salary. With Hendrickson on a $16MM base salary in his walk year, game checks come in at nearly $1MM apiece. That is a big haul for a team to add halfway through a season. As it stands, that appears a moot point.

Endless Hendrickson-Cincy rumors related to the All-Pro defensive end’s extension talks did not produce a deal this offseason, with the team circling back on a late-August raise rather than agreeing on a post-2025 contract. This came after a host of trade rumors at multiple junctures. The Bengals set a lofty asking price in March, seeking more than a first-round pick for the 30-year-old edge rusher. Although they were believed to have dropped that price by August, no trade commenced. This led the sides to come back to the negotiating table.

Hendrickson sought guarantees beyond Year 1 of an extension; the Bengals’ offers did not include such terms, leading the sides to compromise with this raise. That bump will make Hendrickson harder to move, but his consecutive 17.5-sack seasons naturally still make him an appealing commodity on the trade market.

The 49ers came up as a suitor and have been expected to check in. The Colts, who employ longtime Hendrickson DC Lou Anarumo now, join the Eagles and Cowboys as other teams with interest. Those teams are almost definitely going to need to pivot to other options. While the Bengals slipping up against the Jets or Bears at home before the deadline could change the equation, they are set to stand pat right now.

Hendrickson’s ninth season has brought a team-high four sacks and eight QB hits. The Bengals still rank 31st defensively, struggling to start Al Golden‘s DC tenure. Seeing as Cincinnati’s defensive struggles last year prevented an MVP-caliber Joe Burrow season and a Ja’Marr Chase triple-crown effort from producing a playoff berth, Golden’s unit will need to improve quickly. Hendrickson, though, will remain as the team’s centerpiece player on that side of the ball.

Cowboys Expected To Explore Splash Trade

October 19th, 2025 at 1:38pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

OCTOBER 19: While Dallas will be a team to watch on the trade front, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports the team’s calls to date have been “exploratory” at best. As such, a blockbuster swap being worked out during the middle of the season remains unlikely.

OCTOBER 17: The Cowboys’ 2-3-1 start to the 2025 season has not deterred owner and de facto general manager Jerry Jones from signaling his interest in buying at this year’s trade deadline.

Earlier this week, he all but waved the draft picks acquired in the Micah Parsons deal, and recent reports have further indicated Dallas’ interest in making a major addition. One linked the Cowboys to Bengals edge rusher Trey Hendrickson, and another from Yahoo Sports’ Charles Robinson mentions Hendrickson and Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons as Jones’ potential targets.

Hendrickson would fill the Cowboys’ major need for a veteran edge rusher. Though his counting stats of four sacks and three tackles for loss are behind the pace of his last two seasons, his 22.6% pass rush win rate is seventh among edge rushers (min. 50 pass-rushing snaps), per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). That is actually slightly above his 20.8% and 20.0% marks in 2023 and 2024, respectively. The asking price for Hendrickson, per Robinson, ranged from a second-round pick to a third-rounder plus another Day 3 selection.

Simmons is on pace for a career-best season with 4.5 sacks and eight tackles for loss in six games and also leads all interior defensive linemen with 27 pressures and a 19.9% pass rush win rate (min. 75 pass-rushing snaps), according to PFF. However, he seems like a less obvious fit for Dallas’ defense. Sure, the Cowboys would arguably have the league’s best trio of defensive tackles in Simmons, Kenny Clark, and Osa Odighizuwa, but their defense rarely features three defensive tackles on the field at the time.

The potential redundancy is a long-term issue, too. Clark was just acquired in the Parsons trade with a contract, partially because he had multiple years left on his contract, and Odighizuwa signed a four-year extension earlier this year. Simmons’ deal runs through 2027 with guaranteed money in 2026.

Simmons would also cost a first-rounder plus a mid-round pick or a “serviceable starter,” per Robinson. That is a steep price to pay considering that Dallas has already invested plenty in the interior of their defensive line, including an intentional effort to acquire a veteran DT in the Parsons deal. Given the Cowboys’ current roster picture, Hendrickson would seem to make significantly more sense as a trade target in the coming weeks.

49ers, Colts, Eagles, Cowboys Among Potential Suitors For Trey Hendrickson

October 16th, 2025 at 10:59pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

All-Pro edge rusher Trey Hendrickson has emerged as a popular name in trade talks following an offseason contract saga with the Bengals and their subsequent 2-4 start to the season.

The 49ers are among the teams interested in trading for Hendrickson, though Cincinnati is reportedly not interested in moving him. Other expected suitors include the Colts, Eagles, and Cowboys, per Sportskeeda’s Tony Pauline. Hendrickson is owed $9.8MM for the rest of the season if traded after Week 8 ($8.9MM if after Week 9, per OverTheCap), and the Bengals will likely want an acquiring team to pick up all of his remaining salary.

We noted when the Colts restructured Kenny Moore‘s contract earlier this month that general manager Chris Ballard could be clearing space for a big swing ahead of the trade deadline to take advantage of a surprising 5-1 start. Going after Hendrickson, one of the league’s premier edge rushers, would certainly fall into that category. Indianapolis does not necessarily need the pass rush help – their 16 sacks are tied for seventh-most in the NFL – but no individual player has more than 3.0 sacks. Instead, they have 11 defenders who have contributed to a sack this year; adding Hendrickson to that group would give them an elite individual sack-getter on top of a well-schemed pass rush.

Eagles general manager Howie Roseman has a reputation of being a big-name hunter on the trade market, but most of his higher-profile deals have come during the offseason. However, Philadelphia has a bottom-10 pass rush with only nine sacks as a team and no player with more than two. Nolan Smith and Ogbo Okoronkwo are already on injured reserve, and Za’Darius Smith just retired, so the Eagles defense could definitely use reinforcements on the edge. Roseman’s aggressive cap management has given the team enough room to absorb’s Hendrickson’s contract, though it would tighten their budget for the rest of the season.

The Cowboys pass rush has predictably struggled following the departures of Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence, leading to one of the worst defensive units in the NFL. Jerry Jones recently hinted that he could be active ahead of the trade deadline, and he acknowledge that every asset would be on the table, including the picks acquired from Green Bay in the Parsons trade. The Cowboys could certainly use a player of Hendrickson’s caliber, as they currently have the ninth-fewest sacks in the NFL (11).

We heard recently that the 49ers see Hendrickson as “an ideal fit for their defense.” The team lost star pass rusher Nick Bosa to a season-ending ACL tear in Week 3, and 49ers general manager John Lynch has made it known that he’s looking for help on the edge. That front office hasn’t been afraid to take in-season swings, and it wouldn’t be surprising if the team acquired a player of Hendrickson’s talent as they look to maximize their current core.

As mentioned, the Bengals have resisted any trade inquires for their star pass rusher. However, if the team doesn’t improve as the trade deadline inches closer, there’s a chance the team starts fielding offers.

Ben Levine contributed to this post.

Bengals Activate G Lucas Patrick From IR

October 16th, 2025 at 5:48pm CST by Ben Levine

The Bengals will be getting some offensive line reinforcement for tonight’s matchup with the Steelers. According to ESPN’s Ben Baby, the team has activated Lucas Patrick from injured reserve.

Patrick landed on IR after suffering a calf injury in Week 1. He required an extra missed game beyond the minimum IR requirement, but it’s a relatively quick turnaround for the veteran lineman. Patrick returned to practice last Wednesday.

Patrick inked a one-year deal with the Bengals this past offseason and ended up winning the competition for the starting right guard spot. Dalton Risner got the first shot to replace the injured Patrick, and he garnered three starts before getting replaced by fifth-round rookie Jalen Rivers. Pro Football Focus has graded both of those players as below-average this season, so there’s a chance Patrick is immediately inserted back into the lineup.

Of course, Patrick isn’t any world beater himself. The lineman was a reserve lineman for the first three seasons of his career, but he emerged as a starter with the Packers in 2020 and 2021. He had a two-year stint as a starter in Chicago before spending the 2024 campaign in New Orleans.

Elsewhere in Cincy, star pass rusher Trey Hendrickson has been ruled out for tonight’s game with a hip injury. To add some extra depth at defensive end, the team has promoted Isaiah Foskey from the practice squad. A former Saints second-round pick, Foskey will be in line to make his 2025 debut tonight.

49ers Expected To Inquire About Bengals’ Trey Hendrickson

October 15th, 2025 at 11:10am CST by Connor Byrne

OCTOBER 15: The 49ers see Hendrickson as “an ideal fit for their defense,” but the Bengals have no intention of moving their All-Pro pass rusher, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano. Cincinnati is holding out hope that newly-acquired quarterback Joe Flacco can keep them in contention unless and until Joe Burrow makes a late-season return. More losses before the trade deadline could always change those plans, but the Bengals do have a relatively easy three-game stretch coming up.

OCTOBER 11: Having lost star pass rusher Nick Bosa to a season-ending ACL tear in Week 3, 49ers general manager John Lynch has made it known that he’s looking for help at defensive end. Lynch’s interest in finding a Bosa replacement could lead to a trade before the Nov. 4 deadline. To that end, Dianna Russini of The Athletic expects the 49ers to call the Bengals about Trey Hendrickson.

The 2-3 Bengals aren’t declaring themselves as sellers yet. On the contrary, they acquired quarterback Joe Flacco from the Browns earlier this week in an effort to keep their season alive. Flacco will start Sunday against the Packers in place of the demoted Jake Browning, who struggled mightily replacing the injured Joe Burrow.

It’s a long shot that the 40-year-old Flacco will rescue a deeply flawed Cincinnati team that’s on the outside of the playoff picture. If he doesn’t, it could behoove the Bengals to sell Hendrickson to the highest bidder in the next few weeks.

After his second straight 17.5-sack showing in 2024, Hendrickson and the Bengals continued a long standoff regarding his contract during the offseason. They finally agreed to a revised deal in late August, thus preventing Hendrickson from holding out into the regular season.

While Hendrickson’s amended contract didn’t add any years, it did increase his 2025 salary from $15.8MM to $30MM. The soon-to-be 31-year-old is due to reach free agency in the offseason, when he’ll likely price himself out of Cincinnati. That’s assuming he even finishes the season as a Bengal. If he does, the Bengals could place the franchise tag on Hendrickson, but it would cost upward of $35MM to keep him under wraps. That may be tough to swing for a team that already has exorbitant commitments in Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins for 2026. That trio of offensive core players will combine to count approximately $100MM against the salary cap next season.

Burrow’s toe injury has been the Bengals’ main problem this season, but it isn’t the only culprit for their poor start. Despite Hendrickson’s presence, their defense ranks 30th in the NFL in points and yardage surrendered. That’s another reason a 2025 turnaround looks unlikely for the club. Hendrickson hasn’t done anything to hurt his trade value, though, having notched four sacks and eight quarterback hits over the first five games of the season. He’s Pro Football Focus’ (subscription required) 11th-ranked EDGE player this year.

While the Bengals may eventually sell, the 49ers are lining up as buyers after a 4-1 start. They’ve weathered a series of injuries to key players – Bosa, quarterback Brock Purdy, and tight end George Kittle, among others – to reemerge as NFC contenders after a down 2024. They’ve succeeded despite an anemic pass rush that ranks 30th in the league in sacks. Bosa and Bryce Huff have combined for five of the 49ers’ six sacks. Cornerback Upton Stout has the other, meaning the majority of the 49ers’ front seven has been shut out.

Although it may not turn out to be Hendrickson, it seems like a given that the 49ers will bring in a complement (or complements) to Huff by early November. With around $24MM in cap space, the 49ers are as well-positioned as anyone to make an expensive splash. That could mean reeling in Hendrickson if the Bengals ultimately wave the white flag on their season.

Packers Tried To Trade For Trey Hendrickson Prior To Micah Parsons Acquisition

September 6th, 2025 at 10:55pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Packers made a major investment – in terms of acquisition cost and the finances needed for an extension – by adding Micah Parsons. The now ex-Cowboy is not the only notable edge rusher Green Bay targeted this offseason.

Before the Parsons trade, the Packers were among the top suitors for Trey Hendrickson, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports. Cincinnati fielded calls through the spring for the 2024 sack leader. Green Bay was among the teams which showed the most interest in Hendrickson, per Rapoport, who adds an offer was made to the Bengals.

Hendrickson’s future was again in question for much of the 2025 offseason. The Bengals allowed him to seek out a trade, differing from their stance on the matter in previous years. As Rapoport notes, though, retaining him was always Cincinnati’s preference. An agreement was reached on the length and value of a long-term extension, but the gap between team and player on guarantees could not be bridged.

As a result, Hendrickson agreed to a straight raise for 2025 without any new years being added to his pact. Efforts to work out a top-up did not begin until training camp, during which Hendrickson did not practice until his revised deal was in place. By that point, the Packers had been in contact about a trade, with a splashy addition along the edge being seen as a key priority.

Rapoport notes Kenny Clark would have been included in a Hendrickson-to-Green Bay deal, although the Packers were not willing to part with him during their initial discussions with the Bengals. The three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle ultimately wound up being on the move when Green Bay sent him and a pair of first-round picks to Dallas for Parsons. At 26, Parsons obviously represents a longer-term investment from the Packers’ perspective than Hendrickson, who will turn 31 in December.

The Eagles made a push to acquire Parsons, but to no surprise the Cowboys were not willing to deal the four-time Pro Bowler within the division. Carolina also showed interest, although no offer was made in that case. Green Bay won out based on the team’s willingness to part with Clark but also to extend Parsons on a $47MM-per-year pact, the most in NFL history for non-quarterbacks.

The back issue Parsons has been dealing with through the summer led to questions about his Week 1 availability. He is expected to suit up tomorrow, with Rapoport noting a full workload is unlikely. Having arrived one week before the start of the season, Parsons will ramp up early in the year in advance of an every-down role with his new team. The Packers are banking on a high-profile EDGE addition helping them join the NFC’s elite, something illustrated by their eventual Parsons acquisition but also the Hendrickson pursuit which preceded it.

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