The Cincinnati Bengals are one of the teams that has the most attention on them as the trade deadline in the NFL approaches. There isn't a whole crop of players who'd be great additions, but there's one player who is the top trade candidate this Fall.
Trey Hendrickson would be the best deadline pickup if he were to become available, and there would be a lot of teams vying for him if the Bengals were selling. Of the teams that could be available, there's one team that makes a lot of sense and needs a spark.
As Nick Brinkerhoff of USA Today mentions, the Philadelphia Eagles would be a great landing spot for Hendrickson, as they're one of the five landing spots Brinkerhoff identified for the All-Pro Bengals pass rusher.
Bengals' Trey Hendrickson linked to Eagles as top landing spot
There aren't many teams that are contenders who wouldn't want Hendrickson, but the Eagles are one of the few that desperately need some help at his position.
After losing Josh Sweat in free agency and Brandon Graham to retirement, the Eagles needed to find more help along the defensive line. They have a few options, but Nolan Smith is hurt, and Za'Darius Smith surprisingly retired.
"In other words," Brinkerhoff writes, "Philadelphia lost plenty of talent along their defensive line. ... A Hendrickson trade goes a long way in solving those concerns and uplifting a defense in need of some pass-rushing ability."
The Eagles, at 4-2 and reeling after back-to-back losses, desperately need someone like Hendrickson. That desperation is a great sign for the Bengals, as they could potentially land a stronger return for Hendrickson from the Eagles than other teams.
Howie Roseman is willing to pay up when needed, and a one-year rental for Hendrickson to help the team try and repeat wouldn't be out of the norm for the aggressive Eagles GM.
More: ESPN predicts Bengals trade Trey Hendrickson to Lions for solid draft pick compensation
Pairing Hendrickson with Jalen Carter would also be appealing for the Eagles, and that appeal could help the Bengals land a strong return for Hendrickson from Philly.
The desperation, combined with the appeal of a trade, makes a Hendrickson to Philadelphia trade make a lot of sense. And for the Bengals, not many teams could compare with the Eagles in terms of draft pick compensation.
While the return is hard to predict due to potential pick swaps and contract negotiations, the Bengals could potentially land a second-round pick from the Eagles in this trade, as Philadelphia could view this season as one of their best chances for another Super Bowl.
The Bengals' All-Pro is a free agent after the 2025 season, so the Eagles would only be getting a rental, and the Bengals might have a hard time finding a team willing to give up premium assets for him.
But, if the Eagles' desperation wins out, especially if they keep losing, then the Bengals could be major beneficiaries of Roseman's aggressiveness. Plus, if the Bengals did end up moving Hendrickson, sending him outside the conference would be ideal.
A lot still needs to progress before a Hendrickson trade comes to fruition, but if it does, the Eagles make a lot of sense as a trade destination, as Brinkerhoff mentions.
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