While it isn't at the top of their priority list, the Jacksonville Jaguars need to round out their pass-rush rotation in the 2025 NFL Draft. They could do it as early as the first round, with either Jalon Walker or Abdul Carter (if he's available), but could easily wait until Day 2 to check off that box. Of course, they could also give the Cincinnati Bengals a call and see what it will take to acquire veteran defensive end Trey Hendrickson.
A third-round pick in the 2017 draft, Hendrickson got off to a slow start to his NFL career but has turned into a premier pass rusher, registering 70.5 sacks the past five seasons. Just last year, he led the league with 17.5 takedowns and went on to earn an All-Pro designation.
Rightly, the Florida Atlantic product wants a pay bump that reflects his status as one of the top pass rushers in the NFL. The issue is that the Bengals aren't willing to cave to his salary demands and don't seem to be operating with a sense of urgency to get something done.
Heck, Hendrickson has been looking for a contract extension since 2023 to no avail. Things got so bad that he requested a trade earlier this offseason, and Cincinnati granted it.
For a brief moment, it looked like Cincy and Hendrickson had made amends as they resumed contract talks. However, he's not thrilled with the way they've handled negotiations, so he sounded off on the Pat McAfee Show.
And while there's a chance that the Bengals will get Hendrickson the contract he wants, there's a chance they won't. And if it comes to that, the Jaguars should give them a call and make any of these three offers to take him off their hands.
3 trade offers the Jaguars can make to the Bengals
The Jaguars give the Bengals a 2025 2nd-round pick and a 2026 3rd-round pick
The Jaguars currently have 10 picks, including the fifth overall, so they have to ammo to make trades before or during the event. Having said that, the No. 5 might be too valuable to give up, so Jacksonville could instead offer selections in later rounds. They could easily give up their second this year, and third next.
Simple, and straight to the point.
The Jaguars give the Bengals a 2025 3rd-round pick, a 6th-rounder and Chad Muma
The Jaguars have extra picks in the third, fourth, and sixth rounds this year. They could put together a trade package with a couple of them and add fourth-year linebacker Chad Muma. The Bengals have a void at the position after Sam Hubbard's retirement.
Even though Cincy signed Oren Burks in free agency, they also lost Aeem Davis-Gaither, so they could definitely use reinforcements. Muma, a third-round pick in 2022, has struggled at different points the past three seasons but might thrive in the right situation.
In Jacksonville, Muma could be No. 4 on the depth chart behind Foyesade Oluokun, Devin Lloyd, and Ventrell Miller. With the Bengals, he would get a fresh start and possibly the chance to compete for a starting job.
The Jaguars give the Bengals a 2025 2nd-round pick, a 2025 fourth-round pick and Ezra Cleveland
This trade would make sense if the Jaguars are zeroing in on either Armand Membou or Will Campbell in the first round. They already have Ezra Cleveland in the fold but shipping him to Cincinnati would allow the Jags to Membou or Campbell at left guard. Basically, addition by subtraction.
Of course, Cleveland has ample starting experience but is far from a Pro Bowler at this stage of his career, so he alone isn't likely to get a deal done. In fact, he would be the cherry on the top. Jacksonville could offer him to the Bengals along with a second and a fourth
The Bengals need help on the interior offensive line, and Cleveland would provide it. The only downside of the deal is that it would accelerate a dead cap charge of $9.6 million unless they wait until June 1 and split it in two. By then, though, Hendrickson may have already gotten a new deal or found a new team.