Packers Listed Among Potential Suitors for Trey Hendrickson

Trey Hendrickson, the NFL’s sack leader for the 2024 season, can’t reach a contract extension with the Cincinnati Bengals and wants to be traded. Pro Football Network and Fox Sports have made their predictions on teams that may go after the All-Pro. 

The Green Bay Packers made their lists. 

Hendrickson believes he is worth a deal similar to what T.J. Watt was given by the Steelers, which averages $41 million annually over three years. An NFL agent told Fox Sport s he believes a deal somewhere in the range of $30 million to $32 million range makes more sense, which is what is causing the rift between Hendrickson and the Bengals front office. 

If Hendrickson does end up getting traded, the Bengals reportedly want a defensive player and draft compensation for him. A longtime NFL executive believes a fair deal would be a first-round pick and a starter, or first- and third-round picks would work, as well. 

Pro Football Network named five teams it believes would go after the star edge rusher, while Fox Sports’ David Helman named six. There seem to be a couple of favorites in this race, as the Packers show up on both lists, and both say there is a good chance he could end up in the NFC North, whether it’s with the Packers or a rival. 

With Rashan Gary looking for his first 10-sack season and former first-round pick Lukas Van Ness coming off a lackluster second season, Hendrickson and the Packers could be a match made in heaven. He is coming off back-to-back seasons of 17.5 sacks and has at least 13.5 sacks in four of the last five seasons. He was first-team All-Pro last season and has been selected to four consecutive Pro Bowls. 

With the Bears and the Vikings being in the top 10 in offensive line rankings, according to PFF , and the Lions typically fielding a strong unit, the Packers need some star power that can reliably get to the quarterback. Having a pass rusher who is consistently in the backfield can help the Packers slow the progress of second-year Bears starting quarterback Calb Williams and first-year Vikings starter J.J. McCarthy and help the team recover from last year’s 1-5 finish in NFC North games. 

As Fox’s Helman wrote, “In a passing division led by a pair of quarterback whisperers in Kevin O’Connell and Ben Johnson, the Packers could use a top-tier pass rusher like Hendrickson, who can get home in critical portions of the game.” 

The Packers were solid against the run last season, being in the top seven in yards allowed on the ground as well as yards per attempt, and adding Hendrickson would give the defense a significant lift.