Trey Hendrickson could still be traded before the season starts.
His request is still active, and the Cincinnati Bengals haven't gotten this contract over the finish line.
If that's to happen, there are a number of possible destinations, led by contenders like the Detroit Lions.
Bleacher Report's Alex Kay sees it differently, though. He urges the Bengals to trade Hendrickson to the Carolina Panthers for a third-round pick and left tackle Ikem Ekwonu.
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"The Bengals may be coming close to reaching an agreement to finally end their stalemate with Trey Hendrickson, but there's still a chance the superstar edge-rusher could be dealt before the regular season kicks off," Kay writes. "Per the NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the team is reportedly asking for both players and picks in exchange for the league's top sack artist in 2024.
"The Panthers could be in the market for a game-changing pass-rusher as they look to exit their extended rebuild and contend again. After dealing away Brian Burns two years ago, they could get another major force on the edge by coughing up a Day 2 pick and Ikem Ekwonu—a starting left tackle who would help Cincinnati. It's not a cheap move, but it's one Carolina would have to consider to add one of the league's elite defensive talents to the roster."
The Panthers gave themselves a serious reason for optimism at the end of the 2024 season. Bryce Young finally played well.
The QB chosen No. 1 overall in 2023 out of Alabama looked like he might be a total bust. But his good run at the end of the year made the Panthers feel more like soon contenders rather than far-off contenders.
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An addition of a guy like Hendrickson can both energize the team and make them a heck of a lot better, too.
Yeah, Carolina would have to hand him a huge extension, but it could work out for the Panthers. The Bengals will have a tough time getting the perfect package back in return, but this offer at least had a couple of parts to it.
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