Trey Hendrickson said on Wednesday if the Bengals don’t extend him, he wants a trade.
The San Francisco 49ers will be on a mission to fortify their defensive line this offseason. If Robert Saleh plans to rebuild his unit to Super Bowl-caliber, it will take stars and depth.
We discussed the pipedream idea of the Niners trading for Cleveland Browns edge rusher Myles Garrett. As fun as those training camp battles would be between Trent Williams, there’s another pass rusher in the same division as Garrett, who might be available this offseason.
In an interview with “The Pat McAfee Show” on Wednesday, Cincinnati Bengals edge rusher Trey Hendrickson spoke about his desire for a new contract and what he wants if he doesn’t get a new deal:
“If it’s something we can agree on in terms, that would be great. Ideally, my wife and I would love to stay in Cincinnati. If it’s something that helps the Bengals win the Super Bowl, if they get picks or anything like that, I want to help win a Super Bowl for Cincinnati, whether I’m there or not.”
Cincy isn’t exactly known for shelling out the big bucks, as their front office has had plenty of contract issues in years past. They’re also dealing with wide receiver Tee Higgins in a similar situation.
Hendrickson has one year left on his contract. He turned 30 this past December. The 8-year veteran has been among the most productive pass rushers during his four-year stint with the Bengals. In three of the four years, Hendrickson had at least 14 sacks. He led the NFL in sacks this past season with 17.5 — the same number he had in 2023.
Even without the sacks, Hendrickson was one of the most productive pass rushers at applying pressure. He was among the league leaders in terms of pressure rate and snaps per high-quality pressure.
But Hendrickson wants a new deal, and if he wants to be compensated based on what he’s worth, the 49ers can expect to not only trade valuable draft assets but to give Hendrickson a deal that would make him one of the highest-paid edge rushers in the NFL.
Over the Cap projects, Hendrickson’s valuation is around $21 million per year. The Niners front office has always found ways to get creative, whether adding ghost years to lower the early cap numbers or manipulating the salary cap, like reducing the base salary or frontloading a deal.
When discussing acquiring a star player, ponying up the money is inevitable. The 49ers will likely wait back and see how the situation plays out, but they are always willing to pick up the phone.
Unlike Garrett, Hendrickson could likely be acquired without giving up a first-round pick. He’s one year older than Garrett. Plus, the Bengals would have zero leverage, knowing Hendrickson requires a new contract.
If John Lynch and the 49ers front office decide to add a veteran on the edge opposite of Nick Bosa, Hendrickson is far from a consolation prize if the Browns don’t move Garrett.