Cleveland Browns linked to trade for Trey Hendrickson from Bengals

Billy Heyen

Cleveland Browns linked to trade for Trey Hendrickson from Bengals image

The Cleveland Browns already have one of the highest-paid defensive players ever at one defensive end spot, Myles Garrett.

Could they go after another superstar pass rusher and pay him big, too?

That's the suggestion by the latest report from NFL insider Jordan Schultz. He reported that the Browns are interested in trading for Cincinnati Bengals star Trey Hendrickson.

Schultz cautions not to get too excited, writing: "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."

Still, the fact that the Browns are interested is worth nothing. Cleveland has a strong profile of draft picks to work with in a potential deal.

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Hendrickson is entering the last season of his contract with the Bengals. He is due to make $16 million this season but has already made it clear he won't play for that total.

The Browns gave Garrett a four-year, $160 million contract extension earlier in the offseason after he had first requested a trade, as well. Cleveland has seen how this can go.

It'd be a bit odd for the Browns to mortgage their future for Hendrickson given that Cleveland doesn't yet have a quarterback figured out.

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But, on the flip side, if they had expensive bookend pass rushers in place and then drafted a solid QB next year, there'd be the potential for a return to contention sooner rather than later.

It's at least worth watching, even if it's unlikely. Hendrickson would only have a drive north to his new home if Cleveland somehow got a deal done with Cincinnati.

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Billy Heyen

Billy Heyen is a freelance writer with The Sporting News. He is a 2019 graduate of Syracuse University who has written about many sports and fantasy sports for The Sporting News. Sports reporting work has also appeared in a number of newspapers, including the Sandusky Register and Rochester Democrat & Chronicle