On Wednesday, a Sports Illustrated report connected an anonymous NFL executive to a statement suggesting the Raiders are the “front runner” to trade for disgruntled defensive end Trey Hendrickson.
According to multiple reports, the Bengals’ asking price for Hendrickson has dropped in recent days, but until this week, there had not been any reports definitively linking the Raiders to interest in Hendrickson.
Since the Sports Illustrated report, opinions have been mixed on whether the Raiders should pursue Hendrickson, who will turn 31 during the season and will command a contract similar to what Maxx Crosby signed in the offseason.
Additionally, not everyone close to the team is buying the idea there is heavy trade interest in Hendrickson in Las Vegas.
Asked on Thursday if he thought the Raiders were the “front runners” to get Hendrickson, flagship radio host Q Myers said he has doubts.
“I’m laughing because no, I really don’t,” Myers said on the Locked on Raiders Squad Show podcast. “They very well could be in the market for him. I know that this Patrick Graham defense is all about getting pressure on the quarterback and everything goes after that.”
“When it comes to giving big names, big money and going out and making a big splash, I don’t think the staff is interested in that. At least not right now. I could be absolutely wrong, but when I hear that an NFL executive thinks that the Raiders are the front runners, I feel like you could throw the Raiders’ name into every rumor that’s out there,” Myers continued.
“Raiders are the front runners for Micah Parsons. Raiders are the front runners for a you insert whatever you want to insert, and it makes it that much sexier. I don’t buy it. I don’t believe it until I see it. I could be absolutely wrong. I have no problem coming back later and saying, ‘Hey, my bad, I got that one incorrect. I read the room incorrectly.'”
“I think that a lot of times, these reports just kind of pop up and it’s easy to throw it out there, and there’s no consequences of repercussions when it’s not correct. I just take it for what it is with a grain of salt. I don’t think there’s too much there.”
Regardless of who’s interested in Hendrickson, it definitely seems like his situation in Cincinnati is headed towards divorce.
The timeline for a trade will probably be similar to what happened with Khalil Mack in 2018.
Seven years ago, it was the Raiders who lost their star defensive player a week before the start of the season.
Could this be the year the same script is flipped?
x: @raidersbeat