Trey Hendrickson has been among the NFL’s premier pass rushers since joining the Cincinnati Bengals ahead of the 2021 season. He has played in 65 games over that span, recording 155 total tackles, 103 solo tackles, 52 tackles for loss, 57 sacks, and 11 forced fumbles. He has earned Pro Bowl honors in each of his four seasons with the franchise.
Additionally, he was named a first-team All-Pro and finished as the runner-up for Defensive Player of the Year in 2024, after leading the league with 17.5 sacks. While only Cleveland Browns pass rusher Myles Garrett and Pittsburgh Steelers pass rusher T.J. Watt have recorded more sacks over the past four years, Hendrickson has not received a new deal and remains a holdout during organized team activities.
A recent report suggests an NFC North franchise that could be on the cusp of Super Bowl contention might be a potential landing spot for the disgruntled pass rusher.
Trey Hendrickson Linked to NFC North Team Amid Contract Holdout
While star quarterback Joe Burrow has made the case for Hendrickson to get paid, his holdout does not appear to be ending anytime soon. ESPN’s Ben Solak recently suggested the Detroit Lions could be a potential fit.
The NFL analyst noted they could offer a 2026 second-round pick and a 2027 fourth-round pick — with performance conditions to convert it into a third-rounder — in return for Hendrickson and a 2026 fifth-round pick.
“Lions general manager Brad Holmes has acknowledged the fan base wants a secondary edge rusher far more than he does, but I imagine a player of Hendrickson’s caliber would change Holmes’ calculus slightly,” Solak said.
“Hendrickson isn’t the sort of run defender the Lions might prioritize, yet a pass-rush duo of Aidan Hutchinson and Hendrickson might be the scariest in the NFL. The Lions are still legitimate Super Bowl contenders and should behave as such with aggressive veteran trades. They have plenty of cap space to extend Hendrickson, which he would demand of an acquiring team.”
Cash considerations:
Proposed trade offers for Kirk Cousins, Jalen Ramsey and Trey Hendricksonhttps://t.co/JNz6TmJbfD
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) June 4, 2025
The Lions had just 37 sacks in 2024, tied with the San Francisco 49ers for the ninth-fewest in the NFL. Aidan Hutchinson, who played in just five games and finished with 7.5 sacks, was the only player to record more than four sacks.
Despite their struggles getting to the quarterback, Detroit finished 15-2 and ranked fifth in PFSN’s Defense+ metric. With Hutchinson cleared to return after fracturing his tibia and fibula, the Lions could turn a weakness into a massive strength by adding Hendrickson.