The Chicago Bears want to compete in one of the NFL’s toughest divisions, so general manager Ryan Poles should stop at nothing to strengthen his roster.
This includes the pass-rush, when teams can never have too many weapons. The Bears signed free agent Dayo Odeyingobo to play opposite Montez Sweat, but after three sacks last season, he isn’t assured to be the answer.
Pete Martuneac of Chicago Bears On SI believes the Bears should acquire Cincinnati Bengals edge rusher Trey Hendrickson to improve their pass rush.
“He may be approaching 30 years old, but Hendrickson has had 17 or more sacks in two consecutive seasons.
That kind of performance cannot be dismissed and would be a huge boost to Chicago’s pass rush unit,” he wrote. “This could be a potentially difficult trade to pull off since Hendrickson is looking for a big payday and Chicago is light on salary cap space, but pairing Hendrickson with Montez Sweat would give Chicago its most fearsome defensive line since 2018.”
Hendrickson and the Bengals have been in a contract disagreement this offseason because he refuses to play under his $21 million contract — and by all accounts, things aren’t going well.
Hendrickson, who is refusing to sign, has repeatedly chastised the Bengals for communication breakdowns throughout negotiations.
The two parties have returned to the bargaining table, but neither appears eager to compromise.
“They’re chatting again, but they’re not getting any further. “They’re talking, and it doesn’t mean much right now,” Schefter remarked on Wednesday. “It will signify something if and when they can find a way to close a transaction, which they have been unable to achieve. I believe there is a debate over worth and, more importantly, a disagreement about length here. I believe the length of the deal is also a problem in this case. The Bengals want a shorter deal, while Hendrickson wants a lengthier one. And they can’t even agree on the length of the deal right now.
The Bengals reportedly offered Hendrickson a deal worth around $28 million per year, but it apparently wasn’t enough to entice the four-time Pro Bowler. If nothing changes, Hendrickson could be dealt.
Adding Hendrickson opposite Sweat may be a game changer for the Bears. The 2024 sacks leader is coming off a season in which he recorded 17.5, and he has the most sacks in the league since 2023, with 35.
However, acquiring Hendrickson would be a pricey undertaking. Chicago will most likely have to give up a second-round pick in a trade, as well as extend the reigning sacks leader to a deal worth around $35 million per year.
The concern is that Hendrickson will turn 31 in December, but he hasn’t showed any indications of slowing down yet, so there’s optimism he can keep playing at his current level for at least the next three years.
The Bears are on the verge of becoming a good team in 2025. Trading for Hendrickson may help them ultimately kick the door down.
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