Could the New England Patriots be in the market for a star pass-rusher?
NFL Network’s Kevin Patra listed the Patriots as a team he wants to see trade for Cincinnati Bengals‘ All-Pro pass rusher Trey Hendrickson.
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There can never be too many pass rushers along a defensive front, and the Patriots have the need and assets to make a deal with the Bengals happen. Hendrickson, a four-time Pro Bowler, has been one of the best pass rushers in the league. He has registered back-to-back years with at least 17.5 sacks.
That kind of upgrade would go a long way for a Patriots team that ranked in the bottom of the league in sack percentage last season.
Patra wrote:
“The Bengals are unlikely to be interested in moving Hendrickson, as that’s not how they roll. However, if there is a divorce, New England is a good new partner. Mike Vrabel could use a legit No. 1 edge to anchor his defense, and the Pats still have cap space. Sure, they’ve shelled out a lot on D already this offseason, but they should continue to take big swings while Drake Maye is still on a rookie deal. Adding Hendrickson would get them a big stride closer to threatening the Bills’ divisional dominance.”
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In addition to the 17.5 sacks, Hendrickson recorded six pass deflections, two fumble recoveries and 36 quarterback hits last season.
Hendrickson is playing on the final year of his contract, and he is currently seeking a new deal from the Bengals. Talks between the two sides broke down for a while, but those negotiations have picked back up with the hopes that they’ll finally reach a resolution.
There are no guarantees that a deal will get done, and if it doesn’t, one has to wonder if the Patriots would show interest.
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This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: Patriots named as trade fit for disgruntled All-Pro pass rusher