Why the Jaguars should or shouldn't trade for DE Trey Hendrickson
• If he doesn't get it, he wants to be traded
• Should the Jaguars give Cincy a phone call?
![Jan 7, 2024; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson (91) runs onto Jan 7, 2024; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson (91) runs onto](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_3442,h_1936,x_0,y_23/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/55/01hwb072gat4rv48xhzy.jpg)
The Jaguars have bigger priorities to focus on (e.g. Trevor Lawrence)
There's no doubt Trey Hendrickson would be a great addition to the Jaguars' pass rush, but the truth is that they more pressing things to worry about right now. First and foremost, they need to get an extension done with Trevor Lawrence, and it looks like they're focused on making it happen.
Trevor Lawrence says that his representatives and the Jaguars' brass have gone back and forth. General manager Trent Baalke later confirmed that they're working on it, noting that they won't force it but things are looking well so far. If talks have indeed been positive, it will be a matter of time before they strike an extension.
Once the Jags get a deal done with Lawrence. They'll need to move to other members of the 2021 draft class, specifically safety Andre Cisco. Of course, the front office can multi-task, and handle several things at the same time, but the one thing that could prevent Jacksonville from pursuing Hendrickson, or any other player, for that matter, is their cap space.
Right now, the Jags have around $30 million in space and could free up an additional $20 million if they released or traded left tackle Cam Robinson and or wide receiver Zay Jones, but eventually the well dry up. This is to say that the Jaguars will have a limited budget to work with, and they should first re-sign their own players.
If the Jaguars traded for Hendrickson, they would take on his $14.8 million salary for 2024 and $15.8 million next year. That's a relatively manageable cap hit but don't forget the whole reason he wants to be traded is that he wants a new deal, and he's willing to remain in Cincinnati if he gets it.
Add the fact that the Jaguars could bolster their pass rush in the draft, not necessarily in the first round, and it's hard to see them making a trade for Trey Hendrickson.
Here are more Jaguars news:
feed