The Washington Commanders were one game away from the Super Bowl in 2024, as the team made a magical run to the NFC Championship Game as the No.6 seed before falling to the Philadelphia Eagles in the conference championship.
In order for Washington to reach the Super Bowl in 2025, they'll need more from the pass rush. The unit lost their top sack artist from last year, Dante Fowler Jr., to the Dallas Cowboys in free agency and doesn't have an established No.1 edge rusher.
The Commanders should look to bolster the pass rush before the season kicks off, and NFL Spin Zone's Lou Scataglia predicts general manager Adam Peters will pull off a blockbuster trade for Cincinnati Bengals edge rusher Trey Hendrickson.
Hendrickson heading to the Washington Commanders would fall in line with the Commanders and their all-in push this offseason, as they have swung trades for Laremy Tunsil and Deebo Samuel. Their DL is already stacked, but good teams build on their strengths.
Hendrickson's future with the Bengals is looking incredibly murky. The 30-year-old has been highly critical of Cincinnati's lack of communication throughout the offseason and recently stated during the team's OTA workouts that he won't play a snap under his current deal.
"With the lack of communication post-draft, made it evidently clear for my party, meaning my wife, my son, my agent, right, like we're talking a small group of people, that I had to inform that this might not work out," Hendrickson said to reporters at Bengals OTAs on May 13. "And that's unfortunate, I don't think it was necessary, I think we all should have hoped for the best until proved otherwise, but through that other things have transpired, like the importance of me being here in OTAs doesn't seem to be respected, and I think I've carried a lot of respect. I don't mean to insinuate anything about anyone's character, but that was disappointing."
Cincinnati gave Hendrickson permission to seek a trade earlier in the offseason, so moving him elsewhere feels like the most likely outcome at this point.
Washington would be a fantastic landing spot for Hendrickson. The four-time Pro Bowler would elevate Dan Quinn and Joe Whitt Jr's defense to the next level, and he could be the missing piece that turns the Commanders into the favorites to win the NFC.
Not a single defensive player in football has posted more sacks than Hendrickson over the last two seasons. The veteran has notched two straight campaigns with 17.5 sacks and is arguably the most dominant defensive lineman in football.
Washington has the draft capital to acquire Hendrickson, but with superstar quarterback Jayden Daniels on a rookie deal, they should also have the money to sign the standout pass rusher to an extension.
With Daniels still young and on a rookie contract, the Commanders should be trying to go all in and compete for a championship now. Trading for Hendrickson would be an aggressive move but one that they should absolutely make.