Lions Have Second-Best Odds to Land $21 Million NFL Sack Champion

The Detroit Lions must seriously consider the addition at least one more competent edge rusher this offseason, if not multiple — a fact not lost on Las Vegas oddsmakers.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported Sunday, August 17, that the Cincinnati Bengals have reopened trade discussions with regards to All-Pro edge rusher and reigning NFL sack champion Trey Hendrickson.

“With contract talks at an impasse, the Bengals are listening to trade offers for perennial Pro Bowler Trey Hendrickson,” Rapoport posted to X Sunday afternoon. “It’s unclear if the NFL sack leader will be playing elsewhere in 2025, and a trade will be a real challenge. But time will tell.”

Not long after that report, DraftKings Sportsbook issued odds on Hendrickson’s next team: in other words, named his most likely trade suitors beyond Cincinnati. The Bengals remained an overwhelming favorite to hold onto Hendrickson at -450. After that, however, came the Carolina Panthers at +500 and the Lions at +800, making those organizations the two betting favorites to land Hendrickson if the Bengals do, in fact, trade him.

Rounding out the top trade destinations based on odds were the Indianapolis Colts and Green Bay Packers at +1000 each, and the Los Angeles Chargers and Arizona Cardinals each at +1400.

Bengals Favorites to Keep Trey Hendrickson Due to High Asking Price on Trade Market

GettyCincinnati Bengals edge rusher Trey Hendrickson.

Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports explained the primary reason the Bengals remain the heavy favorites to retain Hendrickson, even despite the drawn out negotiation conflict and the initial report from Rapoport Sunday that Cincinnati is actively taking calls from multiple trade suitors.

“The Panthers, [Cleveland] Browns and Colts are among the teams that have shown interest in trading for Bengals All-Pro Trey Hendrickson, per multiple sources,” Schultz posted to X. “An in-division and in-state trade is highly unlikely, and any deal will be tough regardless. Cincinnati is believed to want an impact player (or two) plus a draft pick in return.”

“The Bengals want to keep Trey Hendrickson, and Hendrickson himself wants to stay in Cincinnati and finish his career there,” Schultz added in a repost of his original report. “But talks ‘keep hitting a wall,’ I’m told. There was some thought that Hendrickson reporting to camp would help move things forward, but the same contract issues remain unresolved.”

Lions Could Still Pursue Trade for Trey Hendrickson, Even if They Reunite With Za’Darius Smith

GettyFormer Detroit Lions defensive lineman Za’Darius Smith.

Schultz’s reporting and DraftKings’ odds appear to cement both the Panthers and Colts as serious players for Hendrickson.

Green Bay also makes considerable sense considering the stalled out progress of 2023 first-round pick Lukas Van Ness and the moderate production of $96 million edge rusher Rashan Gary since he signed that deal two years ago.

Detroit is a logical destination alongside those three organizations given how much the team struggled to rush the passer last season, particularly after Aidan Hutchinson broke his leg in Week 5.

The Lions traded with the Browns for defensive end Za’Darius Smith ahead of last year’s deadline, and the front office has indicated the team could still reunite Smith in free agency.

“Za’Darius has expectations, the team has expectations, so sometimes it takes a while for those things to get on the same page — especially [with] a guy that’s been in the league as long as he has,” Lions GM Brad Holmes told 97.1 The Ticket on August 6. “I’m not saying that he doesn’t want to be in training camp. But if he misses some time, there’s obviously still interest there, and we’ve been keeping in touch.”

Even if Detroit brings Smith back, Hendrickson will remain a viable trade target. He will turn 31 years old during the upcoming season and earn $21 million in 2025. The Lions currently have nearly $48 million in available cap space.