Washington Commanders Trade For Trey Hendrickson Dream Crushed In Updated Report

The Washington Commanders know they needed help along the edge with Dante Fowler Jr. leaving in free agency. Fowler is coming off a 10.5-sack season with the Commanders and has signed to go back to the Dallas Cowboys.

As free agency came and went, though, the Commanders remained silent along the defensive line. Their hope, it seemed, was that one of the top edge rushers in the league would be moved in a trade. 

Now, it seems that dream is crushed.

Cincinnati Bengals edge rusher Trey Hendrickson, fresh off of back-to-back 17.5-sack seasons, has been looking for a long-term commitment from the franchise. Some analysts wondered if he would be shipped out if the team didn't want to match his high price point ($30 million APY?) as the All-Pro that he is.

In the latest report from The Athletic, though, Dianna Russini believes that things are coming out positively for Cincinnati and Hendrickson.

"I did a little digging on it and I'm still getting really good vibes coming out of Cincy that they're going to try to get a deal done with Trey," Russini reported.

"Good vibes'' there means bad news here.

It's a major loss of a wish for a team like the Commanders. It appeared the team was hoping they could get Hendrickson in a trade. 

Now, their best edge rushers are linebacker Frankie Luvu and defensive end Dorrance Armstrong. As good as Washington is ... It's not the kind of group that should bring fear into the hearts of quarterbacks around the league. 

But again, head coach Dan Quinn has worked with less before along his defensive lines in the past - to great success.

And in 2025? He'll have to do it again, seemingly without the likes of Hendrickson as part of the Commanders.