After an active week of trades, one that also witnessed veteran QB Joe Flacco go to the Cincinnati Bengals, a dozen more deals are to be done before the 4 p.m. ET trade deadline on November 4. One name that keeps coming up in those trade conversations is Cincinnati’s Trey Hendrickson.

That’s hardly surprising, given his consistent production. But things got complicated after he was injured in the game against the Green Bay Packers. That damage could impact any potential trade. At least, that’s what Bengals legend Boomer Esiason thinks. So, when sportscaster Kay Adams asked him on the “Up & Adams Show” whether the Bengals should trade Hendrickson, he had plenty to say.

“I don’t know. Well, right now he’s got a back injury,” Esiason started. “So, I don’t know if he is even tradable. I don’t know how serious the injury was yesterday.

“If he is healthy, I would trade him. You could get some quality draft picks back because that’s how they are going to rebuild their team. They have got the offense. They have got to make some key acquisitions in the draft on defense to go along with Shemar Stewart and to see if they can rebuild that defense.”

As per information available, Hendrickson is “day-to-day” on the short week after suffering a back injury. He left the game in the second quarter. Soon, the team confirmed he was out. It goes without saying that his exit left the team’s defense with no real pass rush. They allowed Green Bay to score points late in the game. And that’s almost a pattern.

He is one of the team’s best defenders and has recorded four sacks and 15 combined tackles so far this season. Thus, he has proved he is one of their most reliable edge rushers. But the problem isn’t Hendrickson. It’s those around him. Despite his individual dominance, the Bengals’ defense has been a mess: They rank 30th in points allowed (30.5 per game) and 31st in total yards allowed per game (394.2). The playoffs feel like a long shot, and with no extension in place, he clearly isn’t part of Cincinnati’s long-term vision.

The player got entangled in a contract dispute with the team, which ended in August. Both sides agreed to a reworked one-year deal that gave Hendrickson a $14 million raise, bringing his 2025 salary to $30 million. So, why not get some draft capital in exchange for a player who will hit free agency in the offseason? 

They could get some younger and economical players and build towards something more sustainable. “All these teams, the Lions, the Broncos, all these teams come out of the doldrums when they make key trades or a key draft, like Bo Nix. That’s what you need. You need draft assets. You need to get younger, faster, and certainly cheaper,” Esiason admitted.

And he’s right. Look at the Lions. GM Brad Holmes flipped the franchise through the draft. Six of his picks were selected to the Pro Bowl: Amon-Ra St. Brown, Aidan Hutchinson, Penei Sewell, Jahmyr Gibbs, Brian Branch, and Sam LaPorta. That core is the backbone of Detroit’s transformation.

Then, the Broncos have their own version of that story with Bo Nix. This season, he is off to a strong start with 1,277 yards, nine touchdowns, and an 88.2 passer rating. He is setting Denver up for the future.

That’s exactly what Boomer Esiason is pushing for in Cincinnati. The Bengals don’t need another patchwork or a last-ditch playoff push. They need to reset the foundation. And if trading Trey Hendrickson brings in the kind of assets that can help them do that, maybe it’s the right move, even if it stings in the short term.

And on that note, there is some positive news about Hendrickson’s health, which could further fuel trade talks. His MRI came back clean. This might open new doors for him.

All that being said, the Bengals still have plenty of time to make a decision until the trade deadline. They could use this period to see how competitive Flacco can make them. If they do good, it would be worth keeping Hendrickson. If things don’t get better, there are many teams interested in the player. It would take the Bengals a massive offer to give him up. 

The Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers could be two possible trade partners. The Philadelphia Eagles might also be interested after Za’Darius Smith’s retirement. Do you think Hendrickson might land in any of these teams?