The Green Bay Packers rarely make an all-in trade, but the Cincinnati Bengals have gifted them a golden opportunity.
Despite Green Bay's pass rush looking rejuvenated following a defensive line coaching change, this defense could reach astronomical heights by adding an All-Pro sack artist like Trey Hendrickson. Finally, the Bengals are willing to listen to offers.
"With contract talks at an impasse, the Bengals are listening to trade offers for perennial Pro Bowler Trey Hendrickson," reports Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. "It's unclear if the NFL sack leader will be playing elsewhere in 2025, and a trade will be a real challenge. But time will tell."
Packers could launch a Super Bowl run by trading for All-Pro Trey Hendrickson
It's a significant development. Hendrickson's future in Cincinnati has been a storyline all offseason long, but finally, the Bengals are giving into the reality that he may not play another snap for them. As Rapoport notes, a trade won't be easy, but the Packers need to pick up the phone and do whatever it takes.
Hendrickson doesn't just know how to pressure quarterbacks. He is the reigning NFL sack leader. His 17.5 sacks led the way last season, and nobody has more than his 35 over the past two years.
The 30-year-old has made four straight Pro Bowls and earned first-team All-Pro honors last season.
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He would become the game-changing acquisition perfect for a division that has focused heavily on upgrading its offensive lines. Hendrickson would change everything for the Packers' defense.
It's unclear what it would take to make a deal happen. Green Bay may have to be willing to part ways with a pass-rusher — perhaps a young, ascending player like Lukas Van Ness. Maybe the Bengals would prefer a proven veteran like Rashan Gary. It would also require premium draft capital, regardless.
In any case, Hendrickson would provide a Super Bowl-level upgrade for the Packers' pass rush. Pair him with either Gary or Van Ness (or both, if the Packers didn't include either in a trade package), talented rookie Barryn Sorrell, and the valuable depth Brenton Cox Jr. and Kingsley Enagbare provide, and look out.
Green Bay would no longer have the pass-rush concerns that partly derailed last season's playoff hopes. And with a turnover-forcing secondary led by Xavier McKinney, Jeff Hafley's defense would have undeniable potential.
It won't be easy, and the Packers would need to take an all-in swing they rarely deliver, but the potential reward is impossible to ignore.
The Packers already have a strong roster with playoff potential. Hendrickson would put them among the Super Bowl favorites.