The Cincinnati Bengals have two defensive end issues to resolve.
Trey Hendrickson wants a new deal, while Shemar Stewart has yet to sign his rookie contract.
The Green Bay Packers might be able to solve at least half of it.
Matt Holder of Bleacher Report made a combination pitch in a new piece published on Wednesday. He believes the Bengals should deal Hendrickson for draft picks, while the Packers should trade for him.
It sounds like a match.
“The Hendrickson contract saga has been going on for a while, and a resolution doesn’t appear to be in sight,” Holder said. Meanwhile, the Bengals spent a first-round pick on Shemar Stewart, who is currently in a contract dispute with the club, while Joseph Ossai and Myles Murphy will play defensive end. If Cincinnati cannot afford to pay Hendrickson’s 2024 salary, it should move him sooner to maximize its value.
“This would depend on how much money Hendrickson is looking for, but the Packers currently have $35.5 million of cap space available in 2025, per Over The Cap, and need an edge-rusher,” Holder opines.
According to OTC, Green Bay’s 2026 cap space is only $17.1 million, so Brian Gutekunst and company will need to do some financial juggling. If the Cheeseheads can make the budget work, acquiring last year’s sack leader should significantly improve their Super Bowl chances.
Hendrickson has 17.5 sacks in each of the last two seasons.
Meanwhile, if the Bengals can alleviate Hendrickson’s financial burden, they may feel more comfortable simply completing the Stewart contract.
And Hendrickson would be an immediate favorite in Green Bay.
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