Bengals, Packers might have trade solution for Trey Hendrickson, Shemar Stewart problems

The Cincinnati Bengals have two defensive end problems to solve.

Trey Hendrickson wants a new contract, and Shemar Stewart still hasn't signed his rookie deal.

The Green Bay Packers may be able to solve at least one half of that.

Bleacher Report's Matt Holder made a combo pitch in a new article on Wednesday. He thinks the Bengals should trade Hendrickson for draft picks, and that the Packers should trade for Hendrickson.

Sounds like a match.

"The Hendrickson contract saga has been going on for a while, and a resolution doesn't appear to be in sight," Holder writes. "Meanwhile, the Bengals used a first-round pick on Shemar Stewart, who is also engaged in a contract dispute with the club, and they have Joseph Ossai and Myles Murphy to line up at defensive end. If Cincinnati isn't going to pay the 2024 sack leader the money he's looking for, then it should trade him sooner rather than later to maximize its return."

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The Packers have enough money to pay Hendrickson, probably.

"This would depend on how much money Hendrickson is looking for, but the Packers currently have $35.5 million of cap space available in 2025, per Over The Cap, and need an edge-rusher," Holder writes. "Granted, OTC lists Green Bay's 2026 cap space at just $17.1 million, so this would take some financial maneuvering by Brian Gutekunst and Co. If the Cheeseheads can make the finances work, their Super Bowl odds should see a significant increase by adding last year's sack leader."

Hendrickson has 17.5 sacks in each of the past two years.

Meanwhile, if the Bengals clear Hendrickson's financial burden, maybe they feel better about just getting the Stewart contract over the finish line.

And Hendrickson would be instantly beloved in Green Bay.

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