Breaking: Commanders Closing In On Deal To Sign Rivals 17.5-Sack DE
Trey Hendrickson, probably the best pass rusher in football, has asked for a trade, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. According to Cory Woodroof of USA Today, the three-time Pro Bowl pick could land with the Washington Commanders among five other teams.
On April 24, Schefter reported that Trey Hendrickson, a three-time Pro Bowl defensive end with the Bengals, had requested a trade from Cincinnati. “Hendrickson is due to make $15 million this season, and is looking for more long-term security than Cincinnati has been willing to offer.”
Woodroof claimed that signing Hendrickson will “kick off this new era of Commanders football” and make him the team’s best defensive player.
“The Commanders are definitely taking the quarterback of the future on Thursday night, but the team needs defensive line help and has the cap space to pay Hendrickson what he wants,” Woodroof wrote. “This would be an outstanding move to help kick off this new era of Commanders football, as Hendrickson would instantly become the best player on the defense and raise this team’s floor.”
How Trey Hendrickson Would Help the Commanders
In 2023, Hendrickson recorded 17.5 sacks for the Cincinnati Bengals, demonstrating his exceptional ability to rush the passer. Since 2020, Hendrickson has an incredible 53 sacks. The 29-year-old had the second most sacks in football in 2023.
Last season, the Washington Commanders traded Montez Sweat and Chase Young before the trade deadline. The loss of Sweat and Young had a significant impact on the Commanders’ defense, which allowed the most points in the NFL at nearly 30 per game.
Washington also allowed the most yards per game (388.9), the sixth most running yards (126.8), and the most passing yards (262.2).
According to Alex Ballentine of Bleacher Report, the Commanders needed to upgrade their edge position this offseason.
“For the last few years, the defensive line was the most promising feature of the Commanders roster.”
“Chase Young and Montez Sweat were supposed to team up with Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne to form one of the scariest defensive lines in the league,” wrote Ballentine in his April 4 piece on what every first-year general manager must do to have a successful NFL draft. “Now they don’t have Sweat or Young, but they do have a whole stash of draft picks.”
While they could find replacements in the draft on April 25, adding Hendrickson, who’s proven what he can do at the highest level already, could be the better move.
Commanders Have the Cap Space to Get It Done
The Washington Commanders still have $43.4 million In cap space, according to Over the Cap. That allows for them to make a move for Hendrickson, who’s due $15 million this season.
The Commanders, who had the most cap space in the NFL before the offseason, signed Bobby Wagner, Dante Fowler Jr., Frankie Luvu, and others to enhance their defense. Adding another big-time player in Hendrickson would further enhance the Commanders’ already successful offseason.
