Bengals rumors: Cincinnati could target Trey Hendrickson replacement at No. 17.
The Cincinnati Bengals have the 17th overall pick in the NFL Draft. They missed the playoffs despite a thunderous charge down the stretch from Joe Burrow and the offense. Their lack of moves in free agency has left a glaring need on the defense. The Bengals and edge rusher Trey Hendrickson have not agreed on an extension, pointing to the end of his time in Cincy. NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah has Cincinnati taking a Hendrickson replacement at 17.
Jeremiah projects Donovan Ezeiruaku, Boston College edge rusher, to the Bengals with the 17th overall pick. He defends it with this: “Ezeiruaku is a skilled pass rusher with some similarities to Bengals DE Trey Hendrickson, whose future with the team remains murky.”
Ezeiruaku led the ACC with 16.5 sacks and 21 tackles for loss in his senior season in Chestnut Hill. The Eagles won only seven games despite the great season, but the Bengals could benefit from that level of production. Jeremiah does not project a trade-up from Cincinnati, which should be their plan. They need to hit as many picks as they can to have a competitive roster next year.
The Bengals should be prioritizing defense and the offensive line in this year’s NFL Draft, and this pick fits those needs. They drafted Jermaine Burton in the first round last year as their third wide receiver, and he was miserable. That forced them to give contracts to Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, handcuffing their cap sheet in free agency.
The Bengals and Hendrickson are still working on a contract extension. If it leads to him being traded, they should be looking to do it this weekend. If they can immediately replace him with a haul of prospects all over the defense, they could get better immediately. The Bengals need help on defense, and Ezeriruaku could be the answer.
Christopher Hennessy is an MLB associate editor at ClutchPoints, with additional expertise in the NHL and golf. He graduated with a journalism degree from Fordham University in 2022, and he has work experience at Spectrum News One in Albany, New York and with The Hockey Writers as a New York Islanders reporter.
Are the Bengals going to replace Trey Hendrickson?
Detroit Lions Could Land Trey Hendrickson in Blockbuster Trade Proposal..
Find out what one writer believes it would cost the Detroit Lions to trade for Trey Hendrickson. Would you make this deal if you were Brad Holmes?
Okay, Lions fans — buckle up. One NFL trade proposal floating around the web right now is wild, bold, and… honestly? Kinda awesome.
In a hypothetical trade scenario crafted by Mike Luciano of FanSided, the Detroit Lions make an aggressive move to fix their biggest need by acquiring star edge rusher Trey Hendrickson from the Cincinnati Bengals.
Ezoic
Let’s break it down.
Trey Hendrickson Lions Trade
The Trade Proposal
Lions Receive:
Ezoic
EDGE Trey Hendrickson
2025 5th-Round Pick (No. 153)
2026 4th-Round Pick
Bengals Receive:
2025 1st-Round Pick (No. 28 overall)
2025 7th-Round Pick (No. 228)
2026 3rd-Round Pick
This isn’t just a splash — it’s a cannonball.
Why This Makes Sense for Detroit
Let’s be real: the Lions’ defense took huge strides in 2024, but the pass rush still needs help, especially opposite Aidan Hutchinson.
Ezoic
Enter Trey Hendrickson, a high-motor sack machine who’s averaged double-digit sacks every year since 2020. He’s one of the most underappreciated pass rushers in the league and is still just 29 years old.
Pairing Hendrickson with Hutchinson would give Detroit one of the most explosive edge duos in the NFC — if not the entire NFL.
Yes, it would cost the Lions their first-round pick and some additional draft capital, but GM Brad Holmes has shown time and again he’s not afraid to go get “his guy” when the time is right.
Brad Holmes
What About the Contract?
Hendrickson is entering the final year of his current deal and has expressed a desire for a new contract. That complicates things a bit, but if Detroit believes he’s the missing piece, they’d likely work something out long-term — especially if they want to maximize their Super Bowl window right now.
A Message to the NFC: We’re All In
The Lions are no longer sneaking up on anyone. They’re a team with real expectations, and adding a player like Hendrickson would send a loud message to the rest of the NFC: We’re not here to take part. We’re here to take over.
The Bottom Line
This FanSided trade proposal is just that — a proposal. But it’s one that would immediately boost Detroit’s chances of making a serious Super Bowl run in 2025. And with a roster that’s already loaded with young talent, flipping a late first-rounder for a proven star could be the kind of calculated gamble that puts the Lions over the top.
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