The Bengals entered Week 7 on a four-game dropping streak, as they have been with out quarterback Joe Burrow. Because of this, they’re additionally with out a lot hope to salvage the season.
That might change, as there are many wins available on the Cincinnati schedule even with out Burrow. But when it would not, the Bengals might punt on the season and unload components with a view to construct for the long run.
“I’d count on Trey Hendrickson to be a big-time commerce goal,” NFL Community’s Ian Rapoport said on the Thursday night pregame show.
Rapoport cautioned that it could be “not like” the Bengals to carry a “hearth sale,” but when the losses pile up, they might haven’t any selection. Within the meantime, “groups are gonna name” on Hendrickson, Rapoport mentioned.
As a refresher, the 30-year-old Hendrickson is a four-time Professional Bowler and was a First Staff All-Professional final season. He recorded 17.5 sacks in 2023, and adopted that up with one other 17.5 sacks final 12 months, main the league. He is averaged over 14 sacks per season relationship again to 2020. After an prolonged contract dispute with the Bengals, Hendrickson agreed to a one-year deal price $30 million this 12 months, setting him up for a run at free company this coming winter.
Earlier than then, with the Bengals seemingly spiraling out of rivalry, he might assist a group make a deep playoff run. (He missed Thursday evening’s recreation as a result of damage, however Rapoport indicated the damage isn’t thought of important.)
As for what a package deal would appear to be to accumulate the move rusher, Rapoport mentioned the Bengals would need:
- A younger participant “who would assist the Bengals this 12 months and into the long run.”
- A future mid-round choose
From a Patriots perspective, the long run mid-round choose requires no thought. Accomplished. You bought it. All set. Shifting on.
Arising with that younger participant, although, requires a bit extra analysis.
The younger untouchables
The Patriots have a younger roster, however there are some gamers who clearly do not warrant any dialogue relating to buying and selling for an edge rusher who’s taking part in on a one-year deal.
To wit:
- QB Drake Maye
- LT Will Campbell
- CB Christian Gonzalez
That record ought to be self-explanatory, however one surprising title to maybe add to it could be rookie security Craig Woodson. Whereas he hasn’t confused anybody for Ronnie Lott simply but, he is been on the sphere 97.8 p.c of the Patriots’ defensive snaps this season, greater than some other participant on the group. Whereas including an elite move rusher like Hendrickson might assist diminish the dependence on dependable security play, the Patriots do not actually have the depth on the again finish of their secondary to be giving any items away.
The rookie potentials
When the Patriots drafted TreVeyon Henderson, folks have been excited. Ditto for Kyle Williams.
By means of 5 weeks of their NFL careers, the outcomes have been onerous to search out.
Henderson has simply 148 yards and one landing on 41 carries, averaging 3.6 yards per try, and he is caught 16 passes for 99 yards, all whereas struggling in move safety.
Williams, in the meantime, has barely performed, taking simply 10.7 snaps per recreation. He is caught two passes for 20 yards.
On no account does anybody need to quit on their NFL potential. And with three years after 2025 on their rookie offers, the Patriots would possible be unwise to commerce away both. But given the demand from the Bengals, you’d need to think about Cincinnati could be asking about both participant — or each — in a commerce dialogue.
The receivers
The Patriots will not commerce away Stefon Diggs. Regardless of being 31 years outdated and nonetheless not even a 12 months faraway from tearing his ACL, Diggs has been their greatest talent participant. He is additionally not younger, which might seemingly remove him from the Bengals’ record anyway.
So far as different younger, non-rookie receivers go, the record is brief: Kayshon Boutte and DeMario Douglas.
Each are of their third years within the NFL, and each are beneath contract by way of 2026 on brief cash (they’re every due a $1.145 million base wage subsequent 12 months).
Boutte is in the midst of breaking out after a particularly gradual begin to his NFL profession. Douglas is on a little bit of an reverse observe, taking a step again this 12 months after a strong welcome to the league over the previous two seasons.
Douglas did contribute with 71 yards and a landing (plus one other 61-yard landing that was negated as a result of a pretend penalty name), maybe indicating he is now able to play a task in Josh McDaniels’ system.
But regardless of the good tales of each gamers, and regardless of the dearth of depth within the receiver room … the Patriots most likely should not hesitate to commerce away both wideout if it could be sufficient to land a game-changing edge rusher like Hendrickson.
The one that will damage
By way of impression gamers who’re signed long-term, you’d need to think about the Bengals would have their eye on Christian Barmore. Whereas he performs inside as an alternative of out of doors, he is a disruptive pressure who actually matches the invoice as “a younger participant who would assist the Bengals this 12 months and into the long run.”
The 26-year-old Barmore seems to be absolutely recovered from the blood clot difficulty that restricted him to simply two video games final season. Enjoying alongside free-agent addition Milton Williams, Barmore is again to being a disruptor, registering 15 hurries and 4 QB hits in six video games this season.
Barmore is within the first 12 months of his four-year extension, which has him beneath contract by way of 2028, with a cap hit simply north of $17 million subsequent 12 months. That cap hit rises to $23.6 million and $24.6 million in 2027 and 2028, respectively, so he isn’t a low-cost participant. However the recognized management would clearly be thought of an asset in any commerce discussions.
The hang-up from the New England perspective could be evaluating how a lot better the defensive entrance could be if Hendrickson was added whereas Barmore was subtracted. The Patriots have gotten strong contributions from Khyiris Tonga on the inside, however they’re actually skinny past that. Even a minor damage to Williams would devastate the inside of the Patriots’ defensive position if Barmore was not round.
But … that is the secret when a group is buying and selling away a star participant. It typically hurts either side, and this one would match that invoice.
Do not waste your time
The flip facet of that state of affairs comes when folks need to ship away gamers who’re both underperforming or barely undesirable with their present groups. That is not price inspecting.
The Bengals aren’t buying and selling Trey Hendrickson for Kyle Dugger, Keion White, Rhamondre Stevenson or Anfernee Jennings. They don’t seem to be buying and selling Hendrickson for all of these gamers.
Additionally, whereas Campbell was already talked about as an untouchable, your entire offensive line is probably going off-limits. It is too fragile an ecosystem to mess with as Drake Maye ascends to star-quarterback standing to be messing with any of the cohesion there. The lone exception might be rookie left guard Jared Wilson … however it could most likely be a tricky promote to Bengals followers to commerce their star move rusher for a guard.
The ultimate consequence
So, if the Patriots actually need to do that, there appear to be two actual avenues. Whereas they’d must ship a 3rd or fourth-round to Cincinnati, they’d have to incorporate a package deal of both:
- Kayshon Boutte, DeMario Douglas, or each, OR
- Christian Barmore
There may be, in fact, one different different: a second-round choose, after which a fourth or fifth-round choose. With out a lot depth on the roster, buying and selling the next draft choose away may very well be extra palatable for the Patriots than chopping any expertise unfastened from the group.
(You might get loopy and begin discussing a first-round choose, contemplating the Patriots are in line to win a whole lot of video games this 12 months, thus doubtlessly shifting that choose into the 20s. For now a minimum of, that’ll keep off the desk.)
Wouldn’t it be price it? Primarily based on Mike Vrabel’s comments this week, the Patriots do not appear wanting to overextend themselves on the deadline. But given the relative ease of their schedule, they may very well be at 6-3 (or higher) when that deadline rolls round, sitting among the many AFC leaders and doubtlessly taking a look at an earlier-than-planned postseason run to think about.
Provided that Harold Landry has been maximizing his potential on the sting to this point for New England, including a star-caliber participant like Hendrickson to solidify the surface move rush would most likely be worthwhile for the Patriots … even when the price was a bit painful to swallow.
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