The Green Bay Packers could add a big-time pass rusher in the 2025 NFL Draft, but why not go rescue Trey Hendrickson from the Cincinnati Bengals?
He's basically begging for it.
The Packers have a chance to add an impact pass rusher and a legitimate Defensive Player of the Year candidate, at least as long as the Bengals refuse to pay Hendrickson what he feels he's worth. A lot of big-name pass rushers have gotten paid this offseason, including arguably the two best in the league: Myles Garrett and Maxx Crosby.
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Hendrickson undoubtedly feels like he's worth as much as those guys, and at the age of 30, he's not likely going to get a bigger contract than the one he signs next.
If the Packers are serious about winning the Super Bowl, maybe they want to be the team to give it to him.
Packers could save Trey Hendrickson from rough Bengals situation
"When I say that communication has been poor I mean that it's been here and there..
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) April 2, 2025
We don't have any desire to be the highest paid and we've tried to be as patient as possible"
Trey Hendrickson #PMSLive https://t.co/SMzJL6gWFD pic.twitter.com/p53eUYt7TJ
The fact that Hendrickson is airing any of this out on The Pat McAfee Show is indicative of just how poor things have been from the Bengals' side of things. You can understand how Bengals' ownership might be hesitant to just cut another blank check to a player after the Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins deals, not to mention Joe Burrow's historic contract. But Hendrickson also makes the point in there that he's not trying to be "first" or be the highest paid or anything. He just wants to know he's in the "queue".
The Bengals have clearly not made him feel that way, and with OTAs looming -- with the 2025 NFL Draft looming -- his urgency is understandably ramping up.
Packers fans are understandably a little scarred by some recent first-round picks. While the jury is still out on guys like Lukas Van Ness and Jordan Morgan, their lack of year one impact combined with the immediate felt presence of veteran additions of guys like Josh Jacobs and Xavier McKinney has ramped up interest in the idea of adding a player like Trey Hendrickson.
If the Bengals don't want to pay him, the Packers should at least be inquiring about the asking price. This is not an old has-been. This is a 30-year-old player who just had 17.5 sacks in consecutive seasons. Hendrickson has averaged just short of one sack per game over the last four years.
This is one of the most productive and impactful pass rushers in the league, and that kind of player could be a massive addition for a team like Green Bay with ripple effects all over the roster.
Again, if the Bengals aren't going to pay Hendrickson, Packers GM Brian Gutekunst had better be ready to strike.