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Once the 2025 NFL draft came and went, so did the chances for a Trey Hendrickson. The Cincinnati Bengals granted the 2024 NFL sack leader permission to seek a trade earlier this offseason, but maintained the desire to reach a long-term deal with Hendrickson. Due to their need at edge rusher, the Washington Commanders were once viewed as a top potential destination for Hendrickson.
While the Bengals and Hendrickson were optimistic that a deal could be reached, Hendrickson’s latest comments indicate a holdout could be coming. Hendrickson has one year remaining on his current contract at around $28 million, which is significantly lower than the other top pass rushers.
Do the Bengals, a potential Super Bowl contender, want to start the season by fining Hendrickson? Does Cincinnati want that hanging over them for an entire season? Keeping Hendrickson would dramatically increase the Bengals’ Super Bowl chances, but if they’re not going to pay him his market value, then they should move him before the season.
ESPN insiders recently proposed multiple trade scenarios for Hendrickson, including one to the Commanders. Here’s Seth Walder’s offer from Washington to Cincinnati for Hendrickson:
Bengals send Hendrickson to the Commanders for Jer’Zhan Newton, a 2026 third-round pick and a 2027 seventh-round pick.
Why this deal makes sense for both sides: Washington is in win-now mode, but Dorance Armstrong is its best edge rusher. Adding Hendrickson, who recorded the second-best pass rush win rate at edge last season (24%), would be a huge boost.
Losing Newton would make an old defense older, but the Commanders have strong veteran options on the interior defensive line in Daron Payne, Javon Kinlaw and Deatrich Wise Jr. (who can move inside if needed). By including Newton in the deal, the Commanders can put together a feasible package without a second-round pick — they lost their 2026 second-round selection as part of the trade for offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil. Newton would be appealing to the Bengals as immediate help.
Would this be a good deal for Washington? Yes, it would. However, would the Commanders want to part ways with a second-year defensive tackle who was drafted in the second round of the 2024 NFL draft? For the short term, it would be an ideal scenario for the Commanders. Unfortunately, due to Washington’s lack of draft capital in recent years, and in 2026, would it want to part ways with more picks and a promising young player?
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