Latest news gives Colts fans hope for a Trey Hendrickson trade, but the biggest hurdle still remains and it isn't going anywhere

Just when you think there aren't any storylines left in the Trey Hendrickson and Cincinnati Bengals ongoing contract disputes, something else pops up. Adam Schefter of ESPN shared a statement from Hendrickson and his team expressing their displeasure with the Bengals' lackluster attempts at negotiating a new deal. In theory, this could be very good news […]

Destin Adams — NFL News Writer
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Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson (91) takes the field for the first quarter of the NFL Week 18 game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025.
Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Just when you think there aren't any storylines left in the Trey Hendrickson and Cincinnati Bengals ongoing contract disputes, something else pops up. 

Adam Schefter of ESPN shared a statement from Hendrickson and his team expressing their displeasure with the Bengals' lackluster attempts at negotiating a new deal. In theory, this could be very good news for fans hoping to see the Colts trade for Hendrickson and reunite him with new Colts DC Lou Anarumo. But the biggest hurdle that has prevented the team from pulling off this trade all offseason still remains, and it isn't going anywhere anytime soon. 

To have any chance of trading for Trey Hendrickson the Colts would need something in their way to change 

Ever since Hendrickson was granted the ability to seek a trade, the Colts have been one of, if not the most, mentioned teams due to his strong relationship with Anarumo as his DC in Cincinnati from 2021 to this past season. 

During their four seasons together, Hendrickson reached all-new heights as a player. He has recorded 57 sacks over the past four years, including double-digit sack seasons in three of the four years with the Bengals. He also had back-to-back years with 17.5 sacks, which was good enough to lead the NFL in 2024. It seems like a no-brainer to acquire a player like that if you are the Colts or so many teams. But you'd also assume it would be a no-brainer for the Bengals to trade the star.

Hendrickson's recent statement to ESPN shows that the Bengals haven't made much progress in their attempts to lock up their defensive star. Due to the reason you read above, the Colts have been connected in the past and were certainly involved in trade discussions earlier this offseason. The Colts and every other team involved figured out that the Bengals were reluctant to pull the trigger on any trade involving Hendrickson. Many began to think it was a complete waste of time trying to work with the Bengals on the topic, as they clearly had dug their heels in. The Bengals' stubbornness in this situation remains the biggest hurdle in the Colts and many other teams' way of landing the 2024 sack leader. 

The Colts also drafted an edge rusher in the second round in JT Tuimoloau out of Ohio State. I don't think that should stop the Colts from hearing the Bengals out if they decide they want to trade Hendrickson to end this saga that has gone on way too long. The team only has two edge rushers on their roster under contract beyond the 2025 season, Laiatu Latu and JT Tuimoloau. The Bengals giving the Colts and other teams the workaround involving Hendrickson could have certainly turned teams off and diminished their interest in working with them to pull off this kind of trade. But if the Bengals get pushed into a corner and their only way out is a trade, I'll be interested to see if the Colts re-enter the Hendrickson sweepstakes. I think the more likely ending here is that the Benglas continue to hold Hendrickson hostage, and their stubbornness prevents any trade from coming together. 

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