On his show The Breer Report, Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer revealed what the Cincinnati Bengals asked for in the past summer to send star pass rusher Trey Hendrickson over to the Colts to reunite with Defensive Coordinator Lou Anarumo. Prior reports said that the Bengals were looking for a good player plus an early pick for Hendrickson in their negotiations with other NFL teams, but now we have some specifics on what they wanted from the Colts.
The Bengals wanted fan favorite Colts starting Nose Tackle Grover Stewart along with a “high-end” pick. Presumably the latter is a 1st or 2nd round pick. The Colts did not accept the Bengals offer clearly.
Perhaps the trade value has decreased since then? It is unclear whether these trade talks were before or after Hendrickson got a significant pay raise for his remaining 1 year deal, so that could have lowered his value in trade discussions with the increased financial burden on the 2025 cap space. And now if the Bengals trade Hendrickson away the team receiving him only has him for almost half a season and he has no camp to adjust to a new scheme (albeit he wouldn’t have to adjust if that landing spot is Indianapolis).
The Bengals season has not gotten off to the start they hoped for with two early wins followed by a 4 game losing streak after the injury to star QB Joe Burrow. However the Bengals might still have some hope after Thursday night’s thrilling 33-31 win over the now 4-2 Steelers in part thanks to newly traded for QB Joe Flacco swapping AFC North Ohioan teams to force feed JaMarr Chase a franchise record 23 targets (3rd most in NFL history). If the Bengals defeat the winless New York Jets and the 3-2 Chicago Bears prior to the trade deadline, they will have a winning record again and have hope they can keep the season afloat until Burrow potentially returns later in the year. Should that come to pass, it is unlikely they would be willing to trade away their star pass rusher.
Still, the 2025 trade deadline is the Bengals last chance to trade away their disgruntled soon to be 31 year old Defensive End. If they choose not to trade him away, then he could depart in the 2026 offseason and be able to pick his next destination, leaving the Bengals hoping to get a good 2027 compensatory pick for him (at best a late 3rd Round pick).
But fret not Colts fans! A new former Lou Anarumo player could be on his way out of Cincinnati. When one door closes, another opens.
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