Trade Pitch Has Bears Acquiring $60 Million Superstar Edge Rusher..

The Chicago Bears may have trouble releasing Haason Reddick from his tense situation with the New York Jets and were unable to get veteran pass rusher Matthew Judon in a trade. Trey Hendrickson of the Cincinnati Bengals is a player they may still be able to pursue if they are prepared to make a major effort.

Earlier in the 2024 offseason, Hendrickson asked to be traded from Cincinnati as the team refused to offer him additional stability in the form of a long-term contract deal. The 29-year-old committed to the Bengals for four years at a cost of $60 million in 2021. He then extended his contract by one more year last summer, tying him to the team until 2025.

On the other hand, Hendrickson had a career-high 17.5 sacks in 2023.

Throughout the last three seasons, despite playing on a contract that does not pay him as much as some of the greatest in the game, he has been among the NFL’s finest pass rushers. With an average yearly salary of $21 million, his contract places him outside the top 10 highest paid for the role. This incentive led him to ask for a trade when the Bengals would not let him sign a new contract.

Since he asked for a trade on April 24, Hendrickson has now taken part in most of the Bengals’ workouts. He expressed to the public in May that it would be “no-brainer” for him to play for the Bengals in 2024 after turning up for optional workouts in the spring and continuing to be an active participant at the team’s training camp this summer.

However, Hendrickson additionally  claimed that when he and his representative approached the team to discuss a trade or a contract extension, the front office gave them a “pretty firm” response. Should the Bengals remain steadfast in their position, the Bears may have a fantastic chance to acquire a top defensive player through trade.

Bears Have Extra 2nd-Round Pick to Offer in Trade

It would not be an inexpensive endeavor for the Bears to get Hendrickson if the Bengals are accepting trade proposals. The Bears would probably need to extend Hendrickson’s contract by at least one year in order to increase his yearly salary, as he now earns more than $20 million each season and desires additional stability.

In order to get Hendrickson, the Bears would also need to forfeit a sizable portion of their draft capital. Judon was traded by Chicago for a third-round pick to New England, but Cincinnati would likely need to give up more for their premier edge rusher, preferably a second-round pick.

A plausible trade proposal for Hendrickson might resemble this: The greater of the Bears’ two 2025 second-round selections would be turned over.

most likely the one they signed with Carolina with the greater anticipated value— in return for the elite pass rusher and the opportunity to extend his contract with a long-term deal past the 2025 campaign.

The Bengals might be adamant about receiving a first-round pick from the Bears or any other team that makes an inquiry about Hendrickson, but Chicago could persuade them of the potential value of Carolina’s selection. The Panthers are predicted by the most recent ESPN power rankings to finish completely last in 2024, which would make their second-round pick the 33rd overall choice.

With the correct arrangement, the Bears can afford to give Hendrickson a hefty extension. According to Over the Cap, their estimated effective cap space for 2025 is $37.3 million; however, that amount is only expected to soar in 2026, contingent upon subsequent actions. Would making such an expensive transaction benefit the Bears in the long run?

Would Trey Hendrickson Trade Cost Bears Too Much?

For the Bears, figuring out how to pay Hendrickson would be a major challenge. Although Hendrickson’s specific request for a raise is unknown, his performance indicates that he should be paid more than Danielle Hunter, 30, who in 2024 inked a two-year, $49 million contract with the Houston Texans during NFL free agency.

If the estimated yearly cost of $24.5 million is correct, the Bears would find it difficult to justify Hendrickson’s expense. After all, they signed star Montez Sweat to a $98 million contract last November, and they are already paying him that much a year for the next four seasons. At the same price point, it is almost impossible to double dip.

Also, the Bears might decide to hold onto both of their second-round selections.

for the year 2025. If Carolina falls to the bottom once more in 2024, the Panthers’ pick might be a pseudo-first-rounder; on the other hand, their selection would be in the top 50 based on the same ESPN power rankings that have the Bears at No. 17 overall. Using those picks rather than moving them could be more advantageous for a team that recently signed a franchise quarterback.

When November 5, 2024, approaches and the NFL trade deadline approaches, the Bears may have different feelings. At the halfway point of the season, if they are in dire need of pass-rushing help, they might feel better about utilizing one of their two second-round picks to add another veteran to the mix—Hendrickson, in the proper situation.

Ryan Poles, general manager of the Bears, swapped second-round selections. sending away one for Chase Claypool in 2022 and another for Sweat in 2023 at each of the previous two trade deadlines. You should not expect Poles to sit on his hands if the chance presents itself.