Packers Named Best Fit For 4-Time Pro Bowl Edge Rusher

"After being granted permission to seek a trade in March, Hendrickson is refusing to play with the Bengals until he receives a new contract. 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," Bowen wrote. "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)."

Trey Hendrickson was a finalist for the Defensive Player of the Year award in 2024 and will enter the final year of his contract in 2025. He will likely seek a new deal worth over $30 million per year. If the Packers were to trade for him, they would not only have to part with at least a Day 2 draft pick but also work out a new deal.

According to Over The Cap, the Packers are projected to have $28 million in cap space for 2025 but are already $9.5 million over the cap for 2026. While they have the means to pull off a trade for Hendrickson now, the long-term outlook of the roster is concerning. Six starters are slated to hit unrestricted free agency in 2026, and with limited flexibility next offseason, the front office will face some tough decisions.

A trade for Hendrickson aligns with Green Bay’s short-term goal of contending for a Super Bowl. However, it may not fit seamlessly with their long-term roster-building philosophy. If the Packers decide to pursue him, they will need to carefully assess and balance both the immediate impact and the future health of the team—making sure not to compromise their cap flexibility in the process.