Trey Hendrickson Officially In Play
March 6th, 2025
Joe is confident the reigning NFL sacks leader could help the Bucs’ edge rush.
That man is Trey Hendrickson of the Bengals. And if you think he got lucky with 17 1/2 sacks in 2023, well, Hendrickson did it again last season.
Today, per NFL.com and other outlets, the Bengals granted Hendrickson permission to seek a trade.
Joe sure hopes the Bucs are on Hendrickson’s list, and that Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht is eager to take a phone call.
Would Hendrickson want to play for the Bucs? He’s from Orlando, grew up in Apopka and went to Florida Atlantic. Considering the Dolphins have a stable of edge rushers and the Jaguars have a young, double-digit edge rusher (back-to-back seasons), the Bucs sure seem like Hendrickson’s best Florida fit.
And if he wants to play for a contender that has a beastly inside pass rush to complement him, the Bucs make a lot of sense.
Hendrickson is set to earn $16 million this year, the final season of his contract. He turns 31 in December and is looking for a fatter deal.
Hendrickson is a ferocious beast. There’s no spinning the film. He even threw in a whopping 36 quarterback hits and 6 passes defensed last season.
How badly do the Bucs want a stud edge rusher that likely could be had for a first-round draft pick or less?
It seems Joe and fellow fans are about to find out.
March 6th, 2025 at 6:33 pm
Will The Bucs give up the top pick
I know they hate doing that But This is One the Bucs should grab
March 6th, 2025 at 6:33 pm
Just not JL’s style……hope it happens but don’t see it
March 6th, 2025 at 6:36 pm
Ok, this has my full attention and support. I wouldn’t mind the Bucs doing what it takes to get this dude in a Bucs uniform.
Come on, Jason, do it! Make me go from 6 to midnight!
March 6th, 2025 at 6:37 pm
Would love to see it. Can’t Bucs shed a bunch of fat contracts to get a proven EDGE? This guy makes Super Bowl this season a strong possibility. Kind of like signing Brady.
March 6th, 2025 at 6:43 pm
lol! This is a build through the draft team.
March 6th, 2025 at 6:44 pm
Gbobucsfan Says:
Just not JL’s style……hope it happens but don’t see it
^^^^^^
Agreed. Licht builds balanced teams. After Maxx Crosby landed $30M a year, signing Trey is going to be pricey. TH production is crazy compared to MC. $30M/year is a lot. It would take sacrificing in too many pieces.
March 6th, 2025 at 6:47 pm
I don’t think it would take alota pics for a guy who wants a new deal and is over 30 3rd this year and 2nd next year might do it
March 6th, 2025 at 6:57 pm
The Jags are getting rid of a lot of players and are $60 million under the cap. Yardline Yoda is reporting that the Jags will try to sign Godwin or Cooper Kupp. The Bucs are $5 million under the cap. Yikes!
March 6th, 2025 at 6:57 pm
6 passes Defensed as an Edge? Music to Bowles’ ear!
March 6th, 2025 at 7:01 pm
Mr. Editor Says:
March 6th, 2025 at 6:57 pm
The Jags are getting rid of a lot of players and are $60 million under the cap. Yardline Yoda is reporting that the Jags will try to sign Godwin or Cooper Kupp. The Bucs are $5 million under the cap. Yikes!
^^^^^^^
That would be a crazy good haul for Jax. The Bucs can alter several contracts (Wirfs, Baker, and others) to get +$20-30M in cap. I think we’ve learned the cap isn’t real.
March 6th, 2025 at 7:02 pm
I would totally support this move depending on what the pick compensation is. I would not give them this year’s #1, but I’d part with next year’s #1.
March 6th, 2025 at 7:02 pm
Go get him
March 6th, 2025 at 7:05 pm
Agree with Sly and GboBucs… would love this, but I just don’t see it happening.
March 6th, 2025 at 7:15 pm
Go get him!
Then sign Mack or Bosa. Get the dogs on the edge so Vita’s talents are better appreciated.
March 6th, 2025 at 7:16 pm
Just say no. The Bucs are 28th of 32 NFL teams in cap space with only 2 million available – https://overthecap.com/salary-cap-space
That number will change soon and the Bucs can create more room as well. –Joe
Methinks the bills for the Bucs past spending in the Brady era has still not been paid off so for the next few years the Bucs are in no position to be Lexis buyers. They need to hold the line, stick to a strict budget and not make any more JR Sweezy, Ryan Jensen, Russelll Gage wasted contracts.
Jason Licht will need to continue to re-build through the draft (though in free agency he may be able to snag a used Toyota Corolla with 60,000 miles on it if he finds a way to finance it over 7 years).
March 6th, 2025 at 7:19 pm
Get it done Licht
March 6th, 2025 at 7:22 pm
For a third round yes, for more is a no no
March 6th, 2025 at 7:23 pm
Why would Licht want a proven pass rusher when he can draft a fringe role player at that position in the 3rd round?
March 6th, 2025 at 7:30 pm
He can cover. Todd will be salivating.
March 6th, 2025 at 7:31 pm
With Hendrickson being over 30, I’m ok with anything less than a first round pick.
March 6th, 2025 at 7:33 pm
“ For a third round yes, for more is a no no”
Why??? I promise you Especially with our late draft Position that we’re not gonna pick anybody who can provide 17.5 sack production in the first 2 rounds….
Don’t underestimate how good Trey Hendrickson is. I don’t care how much it cost, If the Bucs want to win, you go after this guy.
And if Jason Licht was willing to give 40 million to Michael Johnson after a mediocre five sack season with the Bengals, Then he should have no problem paying a PROVEN guy with back-to-back 17 sack seasons.
March 6th, 2025 at 7:36 pm
I also don’t see this happening but this is the guy to have. Early rumour is a late 1 – early 2 gets it’s done.
It’s not the pick that is a worry, it’s the contract extension that comes with it. Tough call.
Resign Godwin to eliminate that 18 million dead cap- I realize that just pushes it – restructure the other guys and get it done. 3rd and next year 5th or something would be ideal for me. Allow us to draft ILB and CB first 2 rounds … hopefully Jihaad at that point.
Frankly, I would mortgage the future a bit to get him and Mack or Charvarius Ward in the fold. D would be ferocious! No way Lavonte doesn’t return and hopefully at a friendly deal.
March 6th, 2025 at 7:39 pm
So we’ve got Godwin looking at big $$$ AND potentially a veteran Edge (like Henrickson?) looking at big $$$. Does anyone truthfully believe that JL would break the bank and sign BOTH this year, committing us to CAP he11 for several more years?
We’ve already got big $$$ contracts on Mayfield ($33.3 mil average salary per year for 2 more years), Wirfs ($28.1 mil average per year for 4 more years), on Winfield ($21.0 mil average per year for 3 more years), on Evans ($20.5 mil average for 1 more year), on Vea ($17.7 mil average for 2 more years) and Dean ($13.0 mil average for 2 more years). And those 6 are just the players making over $10 mil per year right now … that totals to $133.6 mil which is almost half of our $279 mil salary CAP for this year. Not counting $32 mil in Dead money.
My gut tells me that JL MIGHT be willing to swing 1 more big $$$ contract, but not 2 of them. Two more big contracts would commit us to roughly $175 mil average salary per year for only 8 players, plus we’d still have $32 mil in Dead money to account for. So we’d still have 45 players to pay PLUS our Practice Squad and our Injured Reserve. I don’t think that JL is willing to go down that road.
March 6th, 2025 at 7:41 pm
The guy is 30 and in te prime of his career…a stud like this is available? BUD LYGHT….GET HIM ..NOW!!!! He fixes a lot of issues for our team ….Bucs should be very attractive to him as well…Go ahead JL, make my day!!!!
March 6th, 2025 at 7:42 pm
I thought we might be in play for Trey untill I just read that he led the league in sacks last year. I didn’t know that. That has me thinking that we don’t have the money and/or the draft capital. We probably don’t have money for Bosa either but, at least we wouldn’t have to give up draft capital. Both of them are probably out of reach for us, anyway. We will probably land a mid tier guy and will have to be happy with it.
One thing is for sure, though, ring of honor general manager, Jason Licht and his crew can’t draft a pass rusher. So we have to sign a veteran.
-Captain obvious.
March 6th, 2025 at 7:45 pm
Really don’t understand the logic of fans pounding the table for a pass rusher, And then the best possible option comes available and some say “ill pass”
Khalil Mack and Joey Bosa are both washed and expensive…
This one, however, is the real deal, Go get him If you want to fix a glaring need and contend for a Super Bowl.
March 6th, 2025 at 7:46 pm
“Go get him!
Then sign Mack or Bosa. Get the dogs on the edge so Vita’s talents are better appreciated.”
Draft picks and cap be dammed. Let’s just sign everybody!
If only it were that easy …
If it were, every team would do it!
March 6th, 2025 at 7:55 pm
A nearly 30 year old pass rusher oof
March 6th, 2025 at 7:57 pm
“A nearly 30 year old pass rusher oof”
You must be a Joe Tryon-Shoyinka fan
March 6th, 2025 at 8:03 pm
I wanted him when he was coming out, too! He was there like 4th or 5th round that year still, too! I always thought he had the talent when he was at Florida Atlantic.
March 6th, 2025 at 8:07 pm
Didn’t the Bengals have a top 10 offense this past season? How many playoff games did they win? Everyone needs to pump the brakes. Edge rush-itus has consumed this site.
March 6th, 2025 at 8:08 pm
Bring back Shaq and sign Bosa or Mack as well as draft a DE. Giving up draft capital AND cap space for a 31 yr old doesn’t seem like a Licht type move.
March 6th, 2025 at 8:11 pm
Mack isn’t washed.
FoxNFL just had a graphic on twitter of all the players who are highest paid at their position.
KC, the team that has been to 3 straight SBs has 5 people on the list. One is a kicker, so let’s call it 4.
If we really believe that Licht has been doing a great job throughout the draft which I do, we can afford to pay an edge. Bucs are next on that list with 2… Wirfs and Winfield. Baker makes… 10 less than Mahomes?
I believe Licht when he talks about being in a sweet spot for a long time but is that what we really want? Big spending doesn’t guarantee a SB obviously but not going all in is a way to never get there. I will take missing the playoffs 3 of the next 6 years if it takes destroying our cap now to win a SB this year or next.
Sweet spot doesn’t look so good if you fail to properly replace Lavonte, Evans, Vea in the next couple years. A contradiction to what I said about trusting JL draft prowess now but it is win now time!
March 6th, 2025 at 8:13 pm
Nope. JL will continue to dumpster dive for FA’s. Said as much during the combine.
March 6th, 2025 at 8:14 pm
too old. get harold landry. get. harold. landry.
March 6th, 2025 at 8:15 pm
It’s about more than just the future, it’s about the Bucs current legacy, Lavonte and Evans legacy… how many teams have 3 Super Bowls? How many have that many in a 26 year span?
A Super Bowl right away here puts respect on the Bucs, respect on JL, respect on Lavonte that isn’t going away anytime soon. I know the team is there, I know the media sucks and I shouldn’t care what they say…. But I want that for my team.
March 6th, 2025 at 8:17 pm
Why do teams grant permission to a player to seek a trade? Are the Bengals too lazy to do it themselves? I’d like to see this happen, but I’m not too optimistic that it will.
March 6th, 2025 at 8:21 pm
Not happening.
March 6th, 2025 at 8:23 pm
2nd or 3rd Im okay with. Even a first but I think based on other veteran trades this seems high. If they still own 19 after trading for hendrickson, could always trade down for extra pick if they still think they can get “their” guy.
March 6th, 2025 at 8:26 pm
Landry would be a good add as well. I hope they dont try to sign overpriced Sweat and aging Mack. Going from 17 sacks to 6? And ppl complaining that other players have lost a step yet they are okay with Mack? Makes zero sense, his play is already declining. Migjt as well keep Shaq and let him get 4 sacks.
March 6th, 2025 at 8:36 pm
Jason Licht’s usual strategy of “bargin shopping” in free agency will ensure the Bucs be another 1st or 2d round playoff bounce…..
Licht needs to take a big swing in free agency with Hendrickson and not waste whats likely to be Lavonte Davids final year and Evans final year or 2 in his prime.
March 6th, 2025 at 8:41 pm
Seriously, a late 1 is a very cheap price to pay for Hendrickson. I don’t believe that is all it will take. Methinks the Bengals will get multiple picks for him.
If not, the Bucs would be stupid not to give up their #1 for a proven commodity vs. one they hope will be good in the draft (and there will be nothing great left at edge by the tine the Bucs first pick comes up anyway).
March 6th, 2025 at 8:45 pm
I don’t get why so many people are talking about this guy’s salary blowing up our cap. $17 million is nothing and the Bucs could easily pay that. Projections for what he might be worth really don’t matter. He’s under contract already for a pretty reasonable sum. Worry about the year after next at that time.
March 6th, 2025 at 8:55 pm
Send the 19th, resign him for 3 yrs 75 mil and LFG!!!!!!
March 6th, 2025 at 8:57 pm
He’ll definitely want a big raise. Surprise me if JL went for it. But hey, worked a deal with Tom frcking Brady. lol
No to Bosa
March 6th, 2025 at 9:03 pm
But JTS is “Youngry!”
March 6th, 2025 at 9:22 pm
I would love it, but didn’t Jason Licht just say not to expect any high priced trades?
March 6th, 2025 at 9:43 pm
I must say the salary cap is a joke. Dallas restructured a few contracts and went from 7 mil over to 55 under in one day. It seems to me that sooner or later you have to pay the Piper but it never seems to come due. Hendrickson is obviously not a cap issue . Go ahead and trade. We are close to another SB.
March 6th, 2025 at 9:50 pm
I personally love the move. I agree with most of you. I think the one thing though that a lot of people are underestimating is this is a DEEP draft class. There’s so much talent that can easily fall rounds 2-4 .. so it would make sense to give up a late first rounder and lets run itttt.
Doubt it will happen lol. Bosa seems like an interesting option!!
March 6th, 2025 at 9:51 pm
Anyone suggesting we send this year’s number 1 to get him is out of their mind. First round picks are for getting guys who can play at a high level for 4-5 years for a low price. Hendrickson will be worth it for maybe 2 years and at a very high price. I don’t trade number 1 picks for short term solutions unless it’s the final piece for a Super Bowl. I’ll trade next year’s number 1 if necessary because I expect it to be a lower pick and I don’t expect us to need it as badly next year.
March 6th, 2025 at 9:55 pm
This would be a great move but I got feeling Licht is going to prefer to go after Khalil Mack and keep the draft pick. I’d be happy with either move though
March 6th, 2025 at 10:00 pm
Watch the Bucs manage the cap and have $40 million
March 6th, 2025 at 10:11 pm
Just depends what the ‘family’ wants to do. Hendrickson is a pass rushing mofo. Everyone knows it too.
March 6th, 2025 at 10:13 pm
Disagree FilthyAnimal
You dont give up 1st rounders for corners or WRs…but ELITE pass rushers literally win superbowls….so yes, Ill trade a 1st rounder who may turn out to be Vernon Hargreaves or OJ Howard for a proven guy in Hendrickson.
And lets be honest, if we dont do anything in free agency for pass rusher, are we really gonna trust Licht to draft a quality pass rusher? He’s had 11 years to do so and all he has to show for is a pretty good rotational player in Yaya Diaby
March 6th, 2025 at 10:14 pm
I saw a report a while back that said we’d give up the #1 But get another pic back.
Where is Cincinnati picking?
This is a strong defensive draft. Bucs need picks. I’d give up the #1 land maybe a future lower round pick for a second and Hendrickson.
March 6th, 2025 at 10:20 pm
Billy boy here i take him but still rather have that miles garret kid but hey take whats available!
March 6th, 2025 at 10:34 pm
Remember this.
For everyone clamoring for TH, it took till year 4 for him to work out and NO thought he was a 1 hit wonder.
3rd rounder.
He had 2,0 and 4.5 sacks his first 3 years.
Let’s not wash our hands of Braswell and Diaby.
I’m NOT for spending $35,000,000 a year.
March 6th, 2025 at 10:46 pm
Joe? Lexis? You are shopping at the strip club instead of the Lexus car lot.
Take a lap. Love the page. Thanks.
March 6th, 2025 at 10:52 pm
If he was happy with his salary and it was just the pick then sure let’s go get him but, he is going to want a new deal. That new deal is going to be expensive.
I think Mack is the guy. Not entirely sure how the dead cap works for Shaq if we re-sign him but if we can get rid of that dead cap by bringing him back it would help. Mack still grades out as an elite player and we wouldn’t need him to be a full time player so we might get more out of him especially if he is fully recovered from his injury last season. Also even with a poor showing last year Mack is still significantly better than JTS.
March 6th, 2025 at 11:22 pm
Sounds good to me.
March 7th, 2025 at 12:07 am
Robert Says:
March 6th, 2025 at 9:43 pm
False.
The piper does come calling. Dallas will pay for their salary cap manipulations down the road, just as we did when we pushed cap hits into future years during the Brady period. It’s okay if you get a Superbowl out of it. But you don’t do it if you’re not right there. How do you get there? Draft well, develop players, and use free agency strategically without busting the cap. Once you get there, it becomes worth it. We’re just about there. Are we one passrusher away? No. We’re a dominant passrusher, an inside backer, a safety, and a couple of corners away. It can be done in one offseason, but not if you throw all your money on Hendrickson and dump a #1 pick to get him. Well, we’d have to just hit home runs on all our remaining draft picks.
And if you sign Hendrickson to a 25-30 million per year extension, say goodbye to Godwin.
March 7th, 2025 at 12:21 am
Robert … ‘I must say the salary cap is a joke.’
Ask New Orleans if the salary CAP is a joke.
March 7th, 2025 at 12:58 am
So many are so afraid to give up draft picks. First round draft picks are 50-50. Give them two # 1s if that’s what it takes. Sign him to a four-year contract. The Buccaneers are instantly in play for the Super Bowl for the next few years. Use the draft for ILB and CB.
March 7th, 2025 at 1:07 am
Jason Licht is just not good at drafting edge rushers and this is why he needs a trade or free agent legit sack master. Go get him bring him close to home.
March 7th, 2025 at 2:35 am
I smell a bidding war for his services Joe. Not sure Jason is willing to go there but then I thought there was no way we could land TB12. Soo…
Go Bucs!
March 7th, 2025 at 2:45 am
QUESTION for those in the know: Do we have an inability on the coaching staff of them just not being able to develop and or ‘coach up’ our edge rushers or is it an issue with the talent of the players?
March 7th, 2025 at 3:45 am
the real question is what does mccoy think the bucs should do?
March 7th, 2025 at 4:37 am
Signing him would mean letting Godwin, and David walk. Leaving huge holes at LB, and receiver. It would be hard to fill those holes without the draft picks you’d have to give up for Hendrickson. We need a corner, safety, OLB, ILB, another DT. Look for Licht to find a cheaper route. Don’t see this happening.
March 7th, 2025 at 4:51 am
I dunno… The reason 1st rd draft picks are so valuable. Is getting a talented young player under a 5yr contract on the cheap. With the option of that player sticking around for 10 plus years. Assuming this trade is contingent on a longterm contract. You’re giving up a 1st rd pick for the privilege of paying a premium for a probable maximum 5yrs. He’s going to want a big money longterm deal. That reflects the free agent cash value of a proven 1st rd talent edge rusher. Trading a 1st rd pick for an almost 30yr old player so you can sign him to a big contract. Seems riskier than jusf drafting an edge.
March 7th, 2025 at 6:40 am
Whether we sign a high profile edger or go the conventional route with the draft Todd Bowles is on notice that this defense will be much improved or else he’ll be unemployed come next January. No grey area here.
March 7th, 2025 at 7:18 am
The Bengals don’t want to pay 30 mil a year they need defensive backs bad. Trade them Dean this year and a second next would probably get it done but Hendrickson wants a 2 year 60 mil extension that will be the issue.
March 7th, 2025 at 7:22 am
0.0% chance Licht trades a 1st rd pk not happening
March 7th, 2025 at 9:08 am
Definitely try but if you get outbid use the first pick on Jack sawyer.
March 7th, 2025 at 10:14 am
I would definitely trade the first round pick him for Hendrickson he’s gonna get you 60+ sacks over the next 4 years. With the no tax thing in Florida I bet we would get him signed for like 28M a year
March 7th, 2025 at 10:20 am
Hendrickson with Vea, Kancey, and Diaby would instantly be ELITE
March 7th, 2025 at 11:14 am
Go get the man Licht. You had one of the worst NFL Defenses last year. YOU GOTTA WANNA BE GREAT.
March 7th, 2025 at 11:36 am
I agree Hendrickson is too good to pass up for 17 million and the 19th pick. There is no one they could pick at that spot to get that immediate return. I would say do the deal and before next year you can either break the bank on him or Miles Garrett, if he is still in Cleveland, which I doubt.
March 7th, 2025 at 12:13 pm
Allbuccedup Says:
March 7th, 2025 at 7:18 am
The Bengals don’t want to pay 30 mil a year they need defensive backs bad. Trade them Dean this year and a second next would probably get it done but Hendrickson wants a 2 year 60 mil extension that will be the issue.
^^^^^^^^
You really think Dean has any value? Hit the bong again, maybe other teams will want Funderburke too, if you get high enough.
March 7th, 2025 at 12:32 pm
The JPP case study is an excellent guide. A 3rd round pick…
I’ve always been impressed with Hendrickson beginning when he was on The Taints. He’s a real difference maker.