Coming off back-to-back losses, the Jacksonville Jaguars find themselves needing to fix several issues that have held them back. Working in their favor is that they're going into their BYE, so they'll have a bit of extra time to figure things out. The Jags must use the opportunity to work on fundamentals, but also to assess the roster.
Aside from benching underachieving players, Jacksonville must take a look at the team's immediate needs and make calls around the league to see if it can trade for help. One area that could use a massive boost is the pass rush. Fortunately, the perfect option may just be available.
The Jaguars must inquire about Trey Hendricks ahead of the NFL Trade Deadline
Matt Bowen of ESPN put together a list of the top trade candidates at the NFL deadline and included Trey Hendrickson, noting that he'll garner interest even if the Cincinnati Bengals aren't planning on dealing him. Here's the skinny.
"Hendrickson would be far and away the most attractive trade target if Cincinnati entertains a deal," Bowen wrote. "However, a team source told ESPN, as reported Oct. 14, that the Bengals have no plans to trade the former All-Pro. The interest will be there regardless, and San Francisco in particular considers Hendrickson an ideal fit. The Bengals' record is 3-4 and the team is in the thick of the AFC North race, all the more reason to keep its best defensive player."
Bowen goes on to say that Hendrickson would be "an immediate upgrade for just about anyone," and he's right. The former Florida Atlantic Owl has four sacks this season and is one of the top pass rushers in the league. He restructured his salary for 2025 to bump his salary to $30 million.
Hendrickson has been looking for a long-term deal for a while now, but Cincy hasn't caved. He may not get a new contract if he's traded, but the prospect of leaving the Bengals and getting the raise he wants would surely incentivize him to have yet another banner season.
Why the Jaguars must trade for Trey Hendrickson
The Jaguars have a pair of starting pass rushers in Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen. The duo hasn't been nearly as productive as they've been in past years, and the rest of the rotation has left much to be desired.
Granted, Walker is dealing with a wrist injury and is currently playing with a club. That's surely hindered his impact. On the other hand, Hines-Allen is still bringing the heat, but not nearly enough to rattle opposing quarterbacks. Maybe they'll hit their stride after the BYE, but that shouldn't deter James Gladstone from adding reinforcements to the pass rush.
Gladstone has shown that he isn't afraid to trade for help to address the larger scale roster, and Hendrickson is still playing at a high level. His pass rush win rate of 22.6 percent after seven weeks is one of the best in the league, so he could most definitely help the Jaguars.
The only thing that could prevent Jacksonville from making a push for the four-time Pro Bowl nod is the compensation. It won't come cheap. Depending on his market, he could command as much as a first-round pick or an equivalent package of selections. Jacksonville has the draft capital, but Gladstone may not want to give up ammo for what could turn out to be a one-year rental.
Moreover, there will be other options to bolster the pass rush than Hendrickson. If the cost is too high, maybe the Jags could turn their attention to Bradley Chubb, who may be cheaper and is also productive.
Ultimately, the Jaguars will have their fair share of options to upgrade the pass rush, but trading for Trey Hendrickson is most definitely worth consideration.