It’s been a busy offseason for the Raiders, but they still have holes on the roster and time hasn’t run out to make a big move before the start of the season.
Arguably, the position groups in most need of help in Las Vegas are the linebackers and cornerbacks, but Sports Illustrated insider Hondo Carpenter said this week that he’d like to see the Raiders work out a trade at another position.
“I think [linebacker and cornerback] are the two weakest positions on this team right now, and I think that could change by the end of the season,” Carpenter said on the Las Vegas Raiders Insider podcast. “[But] 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.”
“He’s very, very young. [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.”
There hasn’t been a lot of talk about a potential trade involving Hendrickson, but the Bengals did give their star defensive lineman permission to seek a trade in March.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport talked this week about the stalled contract negotiations going on between the Bengals and Hendrickson, but he believes a trade isn’t the likely solution to the situation.
“I would be surprised, as of right now, if he got traded only because…let’s say the Bengals held out for a premium draft pick. We’re talking first-rounder. For someone as talented as Trey Hendrickson, that would make a lot of sense, “Rapoport said on the Pat McAfee Show. “The problem is value-wise, not every team wants to give up a first-rounder and then a new huge contract to someone who is 30 years old, just philosophically.”
Rapoport added that he still thinks the Bengals are going to pay Hendrickson, but as Raider fans learned with Khalil Mack… until a deal is done, anything can happen.
The cost would presumably be high for Hendrickson, and there’s a case to be made that he wouldn’t be worth a first-round pick just a few months before he turns 31.
As of today, OverTheCap shows the Raiders at a little over $36 million in salary cap room, so they could easily fit another big deal onto the payroll.
The Bengals, though, aren’t in terrible shape, either.
According to OverTheCap, the Bengals are just a little behind the Raiders with $27.07 million in cap room going into the 2025 season.
x: @raidersbeat
How did that tool get a soup box to squeak off of?
Once again Hondo shows his ignorance. First off he calls him a DT not a DE. 2nd Trey wants more than 28 which is what Cincinnati has offered. We already have Maxx at more than 28. Now is not the time to throw a premium pick for an aging veteran. Those days should be gone. This is a rebuild, plain and simple. There are pieces in place to be competitive but nowhere close to be a force. An aging overpaid QB who’s only here because of Pete & Seattle was smart enough to sign Darnold for less $ and for less years and they picked up J.Milroe. He’s got more upside than Geno. Can you guys quit giving Hondo a platform?