Rumors about a potential trade between the Carolina Panthers and the Cincinnati Bengals for edge rusher Trey Hendrickson have continued to attract attention. The speculation comes as Hendrickson and the Bengals remain at odds over a new contract. Reports indicate that Dan Morgan, general manager for the Panthers, has reportedly shown interest in acquiring Hendrickson, according to NFL insider Jordan Schultz.
According to Daniel Chavkin of Sporting News, a hypothetical deal would involve the Panthers sending a 2026 first-round pick, nose tackle Bobby Brown III, and pass-rusher D.J. Wonnum to Cincinnati in exchange for Hendrickson and a fourth-round draft selection.
Chavkin explained, “In 2024, the Panthers had one of the worst defenses in the NFL, and adding [Trey] Hendrickson would be a big boost to their up-and-coming team. Carolina doesn’t have the young talent that some other teams could offer Cincinnati, but Wonnum is a quality player who had four sacks in eight games and Brown is a solid player entering the first year of a three-year deal with Carolina.”
Despite this analysis, some question whether such a trade aligns with Morgan’s current approach to roster building. While acquiring Hendrickson would give the team an elite pass-rushing presence—the likes of which has not been seen since Julius Peppers played for Carolina—the required compensation and need for a contract extension may prove too steep.
As discussions continue around NFL circles, it remains uncertain whether Morgan will pursue negotiations further or if talk of this trade will remain speculative during his ongoing roster rebuild.
