As the NFL trade deadline approaches, predictive trade coverage has placed Cincinnati Bengals edge rusher Trey Hendrickson among the top candidates to draw calls from contenders. The Cowboys have repeatedly been tipped as a logical NFC landing spot if Dallas pursues a midseason pass-rush upgrade.
Why Are the Cowboys Tipped To Go After Trey Hendrickson?
The latest trade candidate rundown highlights Hendrickson’s immediate impact profile and the type of price a playoff team would consider paying to tilt the January football landscape.
Hendrickson’s name is surfacing because it checks the boxes front offices look for under the deadline clock: consistent sack production, finishing burst on third down, and speed‑to‑power that holds up against top tackles. In PFSN’s EDGE Impact metrics, Hendrickson received a B- grade with a score of 80.1.
The contract context is part of the story. Spotrac lists Hendrickson with a 2025 cap figure in the $29 million range under his current Cincinnati terms, a number that shapes both compensation and cap maneuvering for any suitor. For Dallas, that would require a precise fit alongside existing top‑of‑roster salaries, but it is within the kind of in‑season adjustment contenders make when a proven finisher is available and the timeline demands it.
#Bengals EDGE Trey Hendrickson was the league’s highest-graded pass-rusher in Week 5 at 92.7
Two sacks brings him to four for the season – he leads the NFL with 39 since the start of the 2023 season
📈📈📈 pic.twitter.com/7pP9NOF7EG
— Ryan Smith (@PFF_RyanSmith) October 7, 2025
In this scenario, the scheme is not the hurdle; the calculus is timing, price, and Cincinnati’s stance. If the Bengals stay firmly in contention, they may hold. If they listen, Dallas is among the clubs positioned to explore terms. The deadline is viewed as a pass‑rusher market, and Hendrickson is the type of asset who triggers active discussions.
Gap In Cowboys’ Setup Following Micah Parsons Trade
Dallas has spent the first quarter of the season recalibrating its rush after moving on from Micah Parsons, whose outlier pressure rates and finishing defined recent years. Regardless of the weekly rotation, the need remains identical — recreate negative plays on passing downs, compress the pocket to force quicker decisions, and finish drives with sacks instead of near misses. Hendrickson’s tape matches that ask.
Hendrickson wins the first step, converts speed to power, and strings counters when the initial lane closes, traits that translate to immediate leverage on third‑and‑long and late‑game four‑minute stops. Practically, that means better red‑zone pass defense, cleaner two‑minute possessions, and fewer escape snaps for opposing quarterbacks.
From a roster perspective, Dallas can layer a top‑end edge into its current front while preserving interior integrity and blitz variability. If the existing mix stalls against playoff‑caliber offensive lines, a proven finisher lifts the unit’s ceiling. Even if it holds, Hendrickson raises the floor by turning pressures into drive‑ending plays.
With Hendrickson’s production profile and cap figure framing the conversation, Dallas remains a viable option because the fit is clean and the need is clear.