The Trey Hendrickson-to-Detroit rumors just got a lot louder.
Following months of trade speculation, the Cincinnati Bengals’ standout pass rusher stated Monday that the team has not communicated with him about a new contract.
“Rather of collaborating to get us to a point where I can rejoin the team, THEY have stopped communicating. “I’ve been eagerly awaiting a resolution to this situation, but it’s difficult to do when there is no discussion and an obvious lack of interest in achieving mutual goals,” Hendrickson said in the statement.
That is not nothing. In fact, it’s the clearest evidence yet that Hendrickson, who was named First-Team All-Pro after recording 17.5 sacks, is still available.
And guess who’s mentioned as the best possible landing spot?
Why Lions Make Sense.
Let us lay it out:
Detroit needs another edge rusher. The Lions did not address it early in the draft. They let Za’Darius Smith walk. And, while Aidan Hutchinson is formidable, he cannot do it alone.
Hendrickson is exceptional. He isn’t simply prolific; he’s relentless. With 17.5 sacks last season, he was one of the NFL’s most disruptive defenders.
They have the cash. Detroit has more over $40 million in 2025 cap space, giving GM Brad Holmes the opportunity to extend Hendrickson.
Cody Benjamin of CBS Sports sees it, too.
He referred to Detroit as a “prime landing spot” and questioned why the team did not pursue a pass rusher more aggressively in April. Is there an opportunity to remedy that now? It is sitting right there.
What’s holding it back?
Money—and perhaps Cincinnati’s pride.
The Bengals don’t appear willing to negotiate. That might make things messy. But, from Detroit’s standpoint, this is precisely the type of win-now move that might propel them to the top of the NFC.
Cap logistics? Manageable. Is a locker room suitable? Perfect. What about Hendrickson’s work ethic? Let’s just say Dan Campbell would absolutely adore this man.
Pairing Hendrickson and Hutchinson = Nightmare Fuel
Let’s dream for a moment.
Aidan Hutchinson is coming off one edge.
Trey Hendrickson ripped through the other.
Alim McNeill, Tyleik Williams, and Josh Paschal collapsed the pocket from the inside.
Good luck to rival quarterbacks.
Detroit’s defense improved dramatically last season, but it still lacked consistent pressure outside of Hutchinson. This move would not simply fix it. It has the potential to elevate the Lions’ defense to the level of Super Bowl contenders.
The Bottom Line
The Lions are built to win now. And signing Hendrickson would be a game-changing move.
The stars are aligned, with cap space available, a defensive need, and a franchise poised to break through.
Brad Holmes has already made some daring decisions this summer. Adding Trey Hendrickson could be his boldest move yet.
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