With Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Za’Darius Smith announcing his retirement on Monday morning, the front office is now under pressure to fill a significant hole on its defensive line. Smith confirmed his career was over with a message on his Instagram account, leaving general manager Howie Roseman in a race against time to support head coach Nick Sirianni’s defense.
Could Bengals Star, Trey Hendrickson, Be the Answer for the Eagles?
As the Eagles weigh their options, one big name has entered the conversation. Kay Adams of the “Up & Adams Show” floated a compelling possibility in a post on X: Cincinnati Bengals star defensive end Trey Hendrickson. Landing him would be a major acquisition for Philadelphia, but the move is far from simple. Hendrickson’s massive contract presents a significant hurdle for Roseman to navigate.
Trey Hendrickson to Philly?
— Kay Adams (@heykayadams) October 13, 2025
Before the 2025 NFL season, Hendrickson signed a one-year, $29,000,000 contract with the Bengals, which includes an average annual salary of $29,000,000, according to SpoTrac. For this season, his deal involves a base salary of $16,000,000 and a restructuring bonus of $13,000,000. That structure gives him a cap hit of $25,166,668 and a dead cap value of $31,666,668, a daunting financial commitment for any team to absorb.
Adding to the complexity, Hendrickson suffered a back injury during the Bengals’ 27-18 loss to the Green Bay Packers in Week 6. His health is just one of several major problems facing Cincinnati this season. The team lost starting quarterback Joe Burrow to a turf toe injury, and his return is not expected anytime soon. This desperation could open the door for a trade, but any deal for Hendrickson might require the Eagles to include a quarterback in the package.
To address their quarterback crisis, Cincinnati recently signed Joe Flacco from the Cleveland Browns. Flacco started on Sunday against the Packers. With little time to learn the playbook, Flacco’s struggles were evident. The PFSN NFL Offense Impact metrics reflect the team’s offensive woes, giving the Bengals a 59.5 Offense Impact score and an F grade.
Originally, drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft, Hendrickson spent his first four seasons there before joining the Bengals. Over his nine-year career, he has accumulated 81 sacks. He has been remarkably consistent, recording 17.5 sacks last season, which matched his total from 2023.
Despite seeking a long-term deal, Hendrickson and Cincinnati ultimately settled on a one-year agreement for this season. He already has four sacks in the 2025 campaign, and a move to the 4-2 Eagles could give him an even better opportunity to boost those numbers.
