It’s time for the Colts to revisit the idea of trading for Bengals star Trey Hendrickson ahead of the NFL trade deadline
It is time to make Trey Hendrickson a Colt
The Indianapolis Colts are in a great spot after the first six weeks of the season. They sit atop the AFC South and have the best record in the AFC and the NFL at 5-1. Their offense is operating as one of the league’s best, and if their defense can make significant improvements, they just might be one of the top contenders to lift the Lombardi Trophy at the end of the season.
To get there, some adjustments are needed. Reports have already surfaced indicating that the Colts are expected to be active buyers ahead of the NFL’s trade deadline. If they want to take a big swing, we all know which player would be the most realistic target. That player is the 2024 sack leader and current Cincinnati Bengals edge rusher, Trey Hendrickson.
Even while the Bengals struggle, Trey Hendrickson is still playing at a high level
He’s still the same Hendrickson. When games have been close, he’s come up with key pressures and sacks. He was the MVP in Cincy’s win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, which is also the club’s most recent win.
He hasn’t had many chances of late to make that impact with the offense failing so often, but he can still push the pocket and win off the edge.
Why the Bengals could trade Trey Hendrickson
The Bengals are 2-4, and outside of a few promising drives from Joe Flacco, there’s not a ton of hope that things will get better. Flacco, of course, was brought in to keep Cincy in the playoff hunt while the AFC sorts itself out and the AFC North crumbles around the geriatric Pittsburgh Steelers.
Still, if in two weeks’ time things haven’t improved, and the Bengals are staring at the trade deadline with just two or three wins, selling would be the sensible option. That a trade for a quarterback has already happened may eliminate this exercise entirely, as the notoriously stingy front office may not feel inclined to give up on the year after sacrificing draft capital to keep it alive. However, if the losses continue to accumulate, that’s how these scenarios typically unfold.
Why Trey Hendrickson makes sense for the Colts
The Colts were one of the most aggressive suitors trying to land Hendrickson this offseason. They were linked to him throughout his contract disputes with the Bengals, and if he is made available ahead of the trade deadline, I would expect them to be on the phone trying yet again.
His former defensive coordinator, Lou Anarumo, is in Indianapolis. If a trade came together, Hendrickson would slide right into the starting lineup, already knowing the system like the back of his hand. When a team as stingy as the Bengals is involved, the most likely outcome is that no trade will come together. However, if he is dealt, I would be shocked if he isn’t in a Colts uniform.
How much would the Bengals need to trade Trey Hendrickson?
What was that desired price back in the spring? A third-round pick and a player? That sounds about right. Obviously, there would be a push for more, since a first-rounder was the original goal so many months ago. However, if the team is serious about unloading its most desirable trade asset, not under a long-term contract, a Day 2 pick-and-change is about the best to hope for.
Hendrickson clearly can still finish at the QB, and that value will be reiterated in these hypothetical trade talks. Again, I cannot emphasize enough how unlikely it is for the Bengals to trade away one of their best players for fair value, but anything less than a third-rounder is a non-starter.
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