The future of Cincinnati Bengals star edge rusher Trey Hendrickson remains up in the air, as the two sides have yet to agree to a contract extension and Hendrickson has expressed frustration with the process.
Earlier in the offseason, the Bengals allowed Hendrickson to explore a trade, which has led to no shortage of speculation about where the 2024 sacks leader could end up.
One of the more interesting scenarios we’ve seen comes in a content creator mock draft done by Pro Football & Sports Network that has the Bengals and Carolina Panthers reaching a deal involving Hendrickson.
The idea was floated by The Sporting News’ Mike Masala, who has the Panthers sending the Bengals the No. 8 overall pick and a third-rounder in exchange for Hendrickson and Cincinnati’s No. 17 pick.
And, with that No. 8 pick, the Bengals select Hendrickson’s replacement in Georgia edge rusher, Jalon Walker.
“The Bengals can ship him to a team that needs help on the edge and select Jalon Walker, one of the draft’s most intriguing prospects,” Masala write. “While his size isn’t that of a prototypical edge rusher, Walker possesses the tenacity and athleticism to cause problems for opposing tackles. He can also play off-ball linebacker, which could come in handy for new Bengals defensive coordinator Al Golden.”
Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp
Considering the Panthers would have to turn around and extend Hendrickson to a deal that could total around $30 million annually, this is a pretty fair trade. That said, the Bengals will likely be looking for more with reports suggesting Cincinnati’s asking price is “very high.”
When it comes to the selection of Walker, it’s hard to say he’d be able to replace the Bengals star completely, especially in his first season, but he has the tools to be an impact player at the next level.
“Overall, Walker has all the physical tools needed to be a premier and impactful edge rusher. He also appears to possess the right mentality and temperament to become a culture-changer in an NFL locker room,” The Draft Network’s Keith Sanchez wrote.
Considering their need to beef up the defense and his importance to the unit, it would be a poor decision by the Bengals to not extend Hendrickson. That said, a Hendrickson trade remains a possibility until he signs on the dotted line.
Read the full article here