ESPN Names Green Bay Packers as Top Trey Hendrickson Trade Candidate

 ESPN's Matt Bowen dropped his top trade destination for Trey Hendrickson this week as the contract saga continues for the elite edge rusher.

Bowen thinks the Packers should trade for Hendrickson to boost their Super Bowl chances.

"After being granted permission to seek a trade in March, Hendrickson is refusing to play with the Bengals until he receives a new contract," Bowen wrote. "If no deal comes together, Green Bay would be the perfect landing spot for him, as he'd pair well with Rashan Gary in Jeff Hafley's defensive system. Lukas Van Ness, a 2023 first-rounder, is still developing at this stage, so there is a path for Green Bay to add more to its defensive line.

"Hendrickson is a relentless defender off the edge, with a deep toolbox of counters and a knack for making plays late in the down. His 17.5 sacks and 65 pressures were league highs in 2024. This would be a big-time get for the Packers' defense, which tied for the eighth-most sacks last season (45)."

It's hard to envision a returning package of players that's similar to the impact Hendrickson would have on the Bengals' games this fall.

Any trade based around draft pick compensation instantly makes the 2025 Bengals much worse than they are as of this writing. There is no realistic path to replacing Hendrickson's 35 sacks from the past two seasons. Time will tell who blinks first in these negotiations.