Commanders Trade for Trey Hendrickson Idea Gets Final Pre-Camp Update originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

The Washington Commanders are the No. 1 team when it comes to rumors about a trade for unhappy Cincinnati Bengals star defensive end Trey Hendrickson, and there are two logical reasons for that.

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One, the Commanders can swoop in because they have the salary cap room.

And two, the Commanders should swoop in because as talented as this roster is, they have the vacancy.

Hendrickson has asked for a contract extension since the start of the offseason. He is currently slated for an over $18 million cap hit in the final year of his deal…and there is market-based logic now that makes it clear he can ask for $30 million per year or maybe even more.

He was initially encouraged to seek out a trade. That didn’t work.

He’s been involved in extension talks. That hasn’t worked, either.

So then came a major turn: Teams have called; we bet that group includes Washington and GM Adam Peters. The Bengals have been steadfast in stating that they want first-round value for the veteran if they do deal him.

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And a sidebar: ESPN is suggesting a trade that would cost Washington nothing more than two Day 3 draft picks and young D-lineman Jer’Zhan Newton.

Really? That’s it? Nonsense.

If that was the proposal on the table, Hendrickson would be in D. C. today.

Instead, he is reportedly working out in Ohio, which has Cincy fans excited at the thought that maybe Cincinnati management folds and pays the guy who gets a rather amazing 17.5 sacks per year.

Meanwhile, a breaking news update on the Washington position here.

Yes, Washington is shy on picks; it can only offer so much as a result of the Laremy Tunsil and Deebo Samuel trades. But Washington isn’t shy about being aggressive in talent grabs…and yet a report from The Athletic suggests that Washington plans on evaluating their in-house pass rushers before adding any outside talent.

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All in all, this feels like a major “tap the brakes” moment in a much-rumored connection.

Related: Commanders Boast They’re One Move From ‘Looking Like A Powerhouse’

Related: Commanders Owner Makes $500K Investment in Jayden Daniels

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 25, 2025, where it first appeared.