Despite already having the most impressive roster in the NFL, the Philadelphia Eagles have been linked with a huge trade for an immediate difference-maker this offseason. Eagles general manager Howie Roseman has had the magic touch over recent years, with multiple outstanding drafts contributing to the enviable position the team finds itself in.
The Eagles do have to be wary of their long-term spending, with several notable contract extensions on the horizon, but some opportunities are difficult to turn down.
Philadelphia Eagles Linked With Disgruntled EDGE
The Eagles are coming off an emphatic Super Bowl win in which they relentlessly pressured Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. They did that despite not dialing up a single blitz throughout the game, suggesting that their pass-rush wasn’t an area of need this offseason.
The free agency loss of Josh Sweat, though, was a notable one, after the player played a big role in the team’s Super Bowl win. Sweat registered 2.5 sacks and was present for 82.1% of the team’s defensive snaps against the Chiefs in New Orleans.
Several pieces were brought in during free agency and the draft, but the Eagles could yet make a splashy move as they aim to stay on top in 2025. In a recent article for NFL.com, analyst Marc Ross has suggested that the team should trade for disillusioned Cincinnati Bengals pass rusher Trey Hendrickson.
3.5 sacks tonight. 17.5 sacks on the season.
Trey Hendrickson was a BEAST for the @Bengals 💪 pic.twitter.com/Ul2vloeM8
— NFL (@NFL) January 5, 2025
“General manager Howie Roseman hit big on the trade for wide receiver A.J. Brown in 2022. Trading for Hendrickson, who’s in a contract standoff with the Bengals, could provide a similar effect for the defense. Plus, the Eagles just cleared more cap space by dealing Huff. This would be a case of the rich getting richer — and a move I wouldn’t put past Philly.”
Pros and Cons of Cincinnati Bengals’ Trey Hendrickson Trade to Eagles
The draw of bringing in Hendrickson is obvious; the edge rusher has recorded 17.5 sacks in back-to-back years and led the league in sacks last season. The Eagles’ high-powered offense forces many teams to throw the ball late in games, and Hendrickson could be a huge factor in seeing those games out.
Sacks can also be game-changers in tight match-ups, something the Eagles will likely find themselves in during the playoffs, should they get there. The Eagles have a young roster, but one that is also intent on dominating in the short term, something Hendrickson could absolutely help them do.
One potential hiccup to a potential deal, though, is the team’s recent reliance on its young stars. The Eagles have drafted phenomenally in recent years, but that has left them staring down the barrel of multiple lucrative extensions. Nakobe Dean is entering the final year of his rookie deal, while Jalen Carter and Nolan Smith are both eligible for extensions after the coming season.
The team could, in theory, keep both Carter and Smith around for three more seasons by activating both players’ fifth-year options. That would likely not go down too well, particularly with Carter, but the team will need to weigh up those scenarios before offering Hendrickson the kind of money he is looking for.