Trey Hendrickson traded to the Detroit Lions. Wouldn’t that be nice?
Lions fans, players, coaches, media would all love to see it.
Maybe even Lions general manager Brad Holmes, too.
And there’s a deal out there. Both sides just need to look to us writers for a fair trade.
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At least, that’s what ESPN.com concluded after four writers proposed four trades between the Cincinnati Bengals for four different teams. The best offer?
That’s right, it was the Lions with the winning bid for the NFL’s reigning sack leader. (He has 17½ sacks each of the past two seasons.)
Trey Hendrickson trade to Lions proposal
Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson stands on the sidelines during the first half against the Baltimore Ravens at Paycor Stadium, Oct. 6, 2024 in Cincinnati.
The offer came from ESPN writer Ben Solak, who proposed an exchange of three draft picks and Hendrickson, 30.
Lions get:Â Hendrickson, 2026 fifth-round pick.
Bengals get: 2026 second-round pick, 2027 fourth-round pick (can become third-rounder with performance conditions).
Solak writes the Lions should behave like a legitimate Super Bowl contender, which they are, and make an aggressive trade for a proven player. He notes they have “plenty of cap space to extend Hendrickson,” who has one year remaining on his deal and wants a new deal, which is the impetus for his trade demand. The Lions have the third-most cap space remaining for 2025.
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Ben Baby, ESPN’s Bengals reporter, chose the Lions’ offer over ones pitched for the Indianapolis Colts, Buffalo Bills and Washington Commanders, and believes it’s a realistic offer that could get a deal done.
“By acquiring picks in 2026 and 2027, the value of the trade would be prolonged for the Bengals over the course of those players’ respective rookie deals,” Baby writes, mentioning that sending Hendrickson to the NFC instead of a rival AFC contender like the Bills is a bonus.
MY THEORY: Lions will trade for an edge rusher at some point this offseason
Trey Hendrickson with Aidan Hutchinson would be scary
Detroit Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson practices during OTAs at Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park on Friday, May 30, 2025.
The Lions do not have a feared pass rusher outside of Hutchinson, who is coming off a gruesome leg injury last October that required emergency surgery. He missed the Lions’ final 13 games including their playoff loss.
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The Lions also have top defensive tackle Alim McNeill coming off a torn ACL in December, likely setting him up to miss the start to the 2025 season.
Hendrickson, named an All-Pro last season, would give the Lions perhaps the most dangerous pairing of edge rushers in the NFL. Even though he’s not the run stopper the Lions have prioritized under Holmes and coach Dan Campbell, Hendrickson’s track record hunting the quarterback is top tier.
He also played his first four seasons in New Orleans while Campbell was a Saints assistant, so the familiarity is there.
We know Lions fans would love it: When asked in early March which big move they’d most like to see the Lions make this offseason, 42% of 3,111 responses said a Hendrickson trade. That was more than double the next most popular move.
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But will it happen? It’s very unlikely, according to our Lions beat writer Dave Birkett.
“I haven’t gotten any indication the Lions are serious players to add Hendrickson. In fact, all signs point to the opposite,” Birkett wrote recently in response to a mailbag question. “Hendrickson wants a contract that makes him one of the highest-paid edge rushers in the NFL, and that price point — $35 million annually? — doesn’t jibe with how the Lions are operating financially.”
Of course, that could change at training camp or, more likely, the trade deadline. The Lions have previously inquired about Maxx Crosby and Myles Garrett, but the more likely move, Birkett wrote, is adding a veteran edge player on a one-year contract to add depth.
Why does Trey Hendrickson want to be traded?
Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson reacts following penalty flags being thrown during the fourth quarter against the Cleveland Browns at Huntington Bank Field, Oct. 20, 2024 in Cleveland.
Hendrickson wants a new contract with his current one set to expire after the 2025 season. Pro Bowl-caliber players do not like to risk playing on an expiring contract due to the high rate of injury, especially one like Hendrickson who turns 31 in December. In 2023, he signed a one-year extension with an $8 million signing bonus.
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He requested a trade in the 2024 offseason while seeking a long-term deal, but the Bengals declined. He eventually played out the season, and now says he won’t play for the team without a long-term deal.
As for the price tag of an extension for Hendrickson, it won’t be cheap. Garrett, 29, recently got a new deal from the Cleveland Browns worth $40 million per year, but Hendrickson will likely not reach that number. Danielle Hunter, 30, signed an extension with the Houston Texans in March that will see him make $55.1 million over the next two years, which could be in the ballpark of where Hendrickson is looking to get paid.
Cincinnati, which sees itself as a Super Bowl contender, agreed to let him and his representatives seek out a trade, but clearly the compensation in return has not met the Bengals’ asking price. They won’t be getting a first-round pick for him, that is clear.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Trey Hendrickson trade offer to Lions picked as winning bid by ESPN