A proposed trade sending Trey Hendrickson to Green Bay could supercharge the Packers’ defense—but it’ll come at a steep cost in picks, players, and cash.
The Green Bay Packers are aiming to level up in 2025—and a blockbuster move involving Cincinnati Bengals star edge rusher Trey Hendrickson could be the big swing they need.
Green Bay’s pass rush wasn’t exactly bad last season—they tied for eighth in the league with 45 sacks—but outside of Rashan Gary’s 7.5 sacks, no one else on the roster cracked more than five. That kind of production just isn’t enough if the team wants to make a deep playoff run.
Enter Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton, who recently pitched a bold trade idea:
Bengals Get:
- 2026 3rd-round pick
- 2026 5th-round pick
- EDGE Lukas Van Ness
Packers Get:
- EDGE Trey Hendrickson
“If the Bengals prefer to move on from Hendrickson, they may be interested in Van Ness, who’s seven years younger with upside and on a rookie deal,” Moton wrote. “The Packers can put together the most appealing offer if they’re willing to package the former first-rounder with draft capital. Hendrickson and Rashan Gary would be a fearsome starting duo on the edge.”
Hendrickson’s name has been floating around in trade talks all offseason, and things heated up again recently when he publicly vented about his contract situation—for the third time. Safe to say, it’s not trending in a good direction in Cincinnati, which only makes a trade more likely.
Moton’s offer is compelling. Still, there’s a real chance the Bengals would hold out for a second-rounder, even with Van Ness in the mix. Van Ness, the 13th overall pick in 2023, has struggled to live up to expectations so far, but maybe a fresh start in Cincy could change that.
From Green Bay’s side, pairing Hendrickson with Gary would instantly create one of the nastiest edge-rushing duos in the NFL—exactly the kind of punch the Packers need to contend for a Super Bowl.
Let’s not forget: Hendrickson led the entire league with 17.5 sacks last season, and his 35 since 2023 are more than any other player.
Of course, nothing comes for free. Hendrickson isn’t sticking around on his current contract, and he’s made that crystal clear. He’s going to want a major extension—likely in the ballpark of $30 to $40 million annually.
The Packers’ cap situation isn’t exactly flexible right now, so if they’re serious about this move, they’ll need to get creative with the numbers to make it all work.
It’s a high-risk, high-reward proposition—but one that could push Green Bay closer to championship contention.
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