The Dallas Cowboys have already pried linebacker Logan Wilson away from the Bengals this season; now, they are being listed as a possible landing spot for All-Pro edge rusher Trey Hendrickson, who has been in Cincinnati since 2021 and is set to become an unrestricted free agent next year.
According to CBS Sports' Tyler Sullivan, Dallas is one of five teams that look like good fits for the 31-year-old premier defensive end, who is currently recovering from core muscle surgery. He is unlikely to return to the field this season with the Bengals all but out of the playoff picture at 4-9.
The Cowboys inquired about Trey Hendrickson amid all the Micah Parsons off-season drama
As Jerry Jones and Micah Parsons played contract chicken, eventually leading to the blockbuster trade sending the linebacker to the Green Bay Packers, the Cowboys had contacted the Bengals about Hendrickson as a possible replacement, leading up to the 2025 trade deadline.
Sullivan correctly points out that if the Cowboys were interested in Hendrickson then, it is only logical that they would be kicking the tires on the star EDGE who could make an improving defense even better next season.
Jones would have to juggle some money around to create room, as the team is already $47.9 million over the cap. Still, even as the team has vastly upgraded the interior of the defensive line with the acquisitions of Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark, they desperately need that pressure off the corner element that can help conceal some of the shortcomings of the secondary in coverage.
Make no mistake, at 6 feet 4 inches and 265 pounds, Hendrickson is a dominant defender who has racked up 81 sacks in his nine-year career, including back-to-back 17.5 sack seasons in 2023 and 2024. He had 4 sacks in seven games before suffering the injury this season.
He has a tremendous get-off and burst off the edge to work around and under opposing tackles, but can also bull rush with raw strength and power to disrupt in the offensive backfield. He is also better than average against the run.
With Hendrickson hitting free agency after the season, Jones and the Cowboys need to be the first organization on the phone with the elite edge rusher's agent to get him to Dallas.