Bengals predicted to trade Trey Hendrickson to Lions in blockbuster deal

If the Cincinnati Bengals really don't want to give Trey Hendrickson the contract he's seeking, there are other options.

He'd surely be a valued trade commodity around the NFL. He's got 17.5 sacks in each of the past two seasons. Other teams surely recognize the value in that level of player.

And a team that has spent the whole offseason looking like one that needs another pass rusher could be the perfect fit.

Bleacher Report's Kristopher Knox writes that the Bengals should trade Hendrickson to the Detroit Lions for a 2026 second-round pick and a 2027 fourth-round pick.

He'd be the perfect pairing opposite young star Aidan Hutchinson.

"Hendrickson and Hutchinson would give the Lions a championship-caliber pass-rushing duo," Knox writes. "This hypothetical trade would give Cincinnati a fair return while sending Hendrickson outside of the conference."

The added layer that comes with any deal like this is that the acquiring team would then have to reach an extension agreement with Hendrickson. That likely requires having at least some idea of what he's seeking before actually pulling the trigger on a trade.

Hendrickson is due to make $16 million in 2025 but has said he won't play on that contract.

He's likely worth at least double that, which is still less than T.J. Watt, Myles Garrett, Maxx Crosby and Nick Bosa make.

But if the Lions are willing to go a decent bit over $30 million per year, Hendrickson surely would be happy to try and help them win a Super Bowl.