Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson (91) walks off the field after the Cincinnati Bengals lost the NFL game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024.
The Eagles wrapped up their mandatory minicamp Tuesday. The next time they hit the practice field will be Training Camp on July 22. During this dead period, rumors often fly around about potential trades or signings before teams get ramped up for the season. One of the big names that could still be available is Cincinnati Bengals' edge rusher Trey Hendrickson.
The defensive lineman is in a contract dispute with the Bengals that doesn't look like it's going to be resolved anytime soon after he skipped mandatory minicamp. Hendrickson is one of the best edge rusher's in the league, recording 17.5 sacks in back-to-back seasons. He wants a new long-term extension, which the Bengals have been reluctant to give him.
Over the years, Howie Roseman has become known for being aggressive in the trade market. But it doesn't look like the Eagles will be involved in a potential deal with Hendrickson.
ESPN's Adam Schefter poured cold water on the situation in an appearance on 97.5 The Fanatic while speaking with John Kincade and Andrew Salciunas:
"I don't think so, I would say no," Schefter said of the Eagles' potential involvement. "I don't think that's practical...Knowing what I know from the past — conversations with various people at various points in the offseason — I would say no, I don't see something like that happening.
"I think they know all the big deals they have coming up, and I think their priority is to pay their own people — their homegrown talent — and reward it over time. And if you go trade for a player like Trey Hendrickson and pay him upwards of $30+ million a year, that really is disruptive to everything going on. Trey Hendrickson is an incredible player, but I just don't see a move like that in the cards."
Schefter's statement is pretty definitive and seems logical. The Eagles still have plenty of young talent like Jalen Carter and Nolan Smith on the defensive line that are going to get huge extensions in the next couple years. Further down the line, Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell are going to command big salaries in the secondary.
The Eagles already saw some of the effects of trying to manage their money this offseason. They kept Zack Baun, but lost Milton Williams and Josh Sweat, both of whom received lucrative contracts in free agency. As Schefter pointed out, adding Hendrickson, who is going to command a ton of money, would put a big strain on the Eagles salary cap.
The Eagles' defensive line was their strong point in their Super Bowl win in February and that was without a premier edge rusher like Hendrickson. Patrick Mahomes was sacked six times and pressured on 38.1% of his drop backs, despite Vic Fangio not calling a single blitz. Sweat did have 2.5 sacks — nearly claiming Super Bowl MVP — though the Eagles have shown a reluctancy to pay aging edges, as shown by their decision not to extend Haason Reddick last year. Reddick turned 30 last September. Sweat is 28, but had questions about how many snaps he could play due to potential knee issues. Hendrickson will be 31 in December. It looks like Roseman will stay away from this situation.
Something that seems more plausible is the Eagles adding cornerback Jaire Alexander. The 27-year-old was released by the Green Bay Packers on Monday after playing just seven games in each of the past two seasons.
"Now Jaire Alexander, if the price were right and you're doing a one-year deal — whatever the number is, a low number — they can go make that work if that's what they wanted to do," Schefter said.
As Schefter alluded to, if Alexander signed with the Eagles, it would likely be on a prove-it deal. He hasn't stayed healthy over the past few seasons and if he can rejuvenate his career in Philly, he'll be due for a payday next offseason.
The Eagles don't necessarily have a need in the secondary with Mitchell and DeJean, though adding Alexander could be interesting. He's a two-time second-team All-Pro that was once the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL. Depending on the money, he could be a fit.
