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Why Patriots Should Not Sign Trey Hendrickson originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The New England Patriots should be looking to add to their pass rush this offseason, but should not be fooled by some big names on the market.
Trey Hendrickson is a player the Patriots should avoid, even though on paper, he may seem like a phenomenal addition. He has been in a contract dispute with the Cincinnati Bengals for a couple of years now, and may finally be wearing a different jersey next season. However, despite his track record of success, he may not be worth it.
He is still looking to get paid after the Bengals ended up coming to short-term resolutions with him the last couple of years. He has 81 career sacks and led the NFL in sacks in 2024. However, he will turn 32 in December and missed most of last season thanks to an injury. He is an aging player who is going to cost plenty of money, coming off a poor year.
Some team is going to pay Hendrickson what he wants. However, the Patriots have a solid team and are not reportedly operating like a team that feels it needs to spend big to win the Super Bowl right now. The pass rush needs to be addressed, but there are options besides Hendrickson.
If the Patriots are going to invest in a pass rusher, it would be wise to spend on a younger player. Maxx Crosby is a name to watch in trade rumors. In free agency, Jaelan Phillips, Boye Mafe and Odafe Oweh are young players who could be solid additions. If the Patriots are not overly enthused by free agent options, the NFL Draft could provide them with a young pass rusher.
Regardless, the point is that Hendrickson may no longer be worth what he is looking for in guarantees. The four-time Pro Bowler and 2024 First-Team All-Pro is a great player, but did not do himself any favors last season. Signing him is not a risk the Patriots need to take right now, especially with needs elsewhere on the roster as well.