Could the Raiders be one of the teams that have reached out to the Bengals about a potential trade for star pass-rusher Trey Hendrickson?
It hasn’t been reported to this point, but Sports Illustrated insider Hondo Carpenter has been pounding the table for Hendrickson to the Raiders for months.
This week, Hondo continued to make the case for Hendrickson on his daily podcast.
“I would love to see them go get Trey Hendrickson. Go get Trey Hendrickson,” Carpenter said on the Las Vegas Raiders Insider podcast.
“I have a trade in mind. I’m not going to voice that trade, but I have a trade in mind,” Carpenter continued. “An elite defensive lineman at your strongest point. That’s what you do. You just always get better. You never have enough elite defensive lineman. You just don’t have enough. And I would make that Trey Hendrickson trade today.
I would send a first rounder and a player that would probably surprise some people. Probably two. But one player in particular, I think would surprise some people, but I would make that trade today. I think that’s a great idea… Just make your strength even stronger.”
Two months ago, Carpenter made a similar statement on Hendrickson.
“If I could make a trade right now, I would call the Cincinnati Bengals and trade for Trey Hendrickson. He is the best defensive tackle, and the Raiders have the cap space,” Carpenter said in May.
“[I would] sign him to a mega deal… and you now have Christian Wilkins, Trey Hendrickson, Maxx Crosby, Adam Butler, Malcolm Koonce,” Carpenter continued. “I [would] make that trade right now. Because I don’t think there is a linebacker like that available, or a corner. So what do you do? You double down on your strength.”
The Bengals have been adamant that they aren’t trading Hendrickson, but they also haven’t shown a willingness to budge on his valuation.
And as Raider fans know as well as anyone… when contract negotiations break down with your star defensive player, anything can happen.
x: @raidersbeat
Wouldn’t be a bad move, from my perspective, but when I suggested this other Raiders fans said that the cost would mortgage the Raiders future.
I just read an article on Yardbarker that believes that the Raiders quarterback situation, going into this season is solid. Not me. I say that the Raiders offensive line gave up 50 sacks last year, fact. I say that after Minshew and O’Connell went down, to injury, the Raiders were forced to play Desmond Ridder, who was largely ineffective but mobile, fact. Geno is 34 and somewhat mobile but O’Connell is 26 and lead footed. Most of all, the Raiders don’t have a top five offensive line and should pursue a battle tested, MOBILE, inexpensive, proven option like Joshua Dobbs. His resume is similar to that of Rich Gannon’s and he’s only 31.
God forbid that Geno should sustain an injury during the grueling 17 game regular season however Adian O’Connell, and his lack of mobility and an as yet unproven offensive line, shouldn’t instill confidence in even the most optimistic Raiders fan. I implore Raiders management to prepare for the worst. There’s an old adage that says, Better to have it and don’t need it than to need it and don’t have it.
Every team is optimistic about it’s chances before the season starts but realism says to be prepared for the unforseen. In layman’s terms it’s called insurance and leadfooted Adian O’Connell and a rookie quarterback seems inadinadequate to me.
O’Connell was injured because of a cheap shot by Tampa Bay not because of offensive line.
I have no issues with their OL whatsoever,this line is better then the line that blocked for Josh Jacobs a few yrs ago when he won the NFL rushing title.. They will be fine with their OL..I’m more worried about the defense currently..They have solid weapons on offense, probably better then all AFC West teams..They also have a very creative OC who will design plays to create mismatches for their skilled players,Brock, Ashton and Meyers.. Defense is the key to raiders success,it always is!!
Two indisputable facts Rick, last year the Raiders were last in rushing and gave up 50 sacks. I guess there’s no where to go but up from there.
Giving up a future 1st is a terrible idea for Trey Hendrickson. Thankfully Hondo is a clown and NOBODY listens to him! Hondo isn’t an “insider” as much as he is a tool.
Raider Nation, I agree that the cost of acquiring Hendrickson might be too high and mortgaging the future, just to win now, isn’t worth it in the long run. I suggest that the Raiders do just what Kansas City and Philadelphia have done and that is to continue to build in the draft.
Now, if you remember, every team passed on Andre Carter but Philadelphia took a chance and look at them now. Also, every team passed on Lamar Jackson in the first round but with the first pick of the second round Baltimore came back and got Lamar. My point is that the Raiders scouts need to do a better job of finding diamonds in the ruff.
I can see the Raiders becoming relevant again in two to three years if they draft good. The only drawback is wasting Max Crosby while he’s still in his prime.