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Trey Hendrickson trade would completely change Panthers

The Carolina Panthers could be a wildly different team if they traded for Cincinnati Bengals star Trey Hendrickson.
Jeremy Brener|
Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson takes the field for the first quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson takes the field for the first quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers. | Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

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Carolina Panthers

The Carolina Panthers are in need of some juice on the defensive side of the ball.

That's why NFL.com writer Nick Shook listed the Panthers as a potential trade destination for Cincinnati Bengals star Trey Hendrickson.

"Carolina traded away Brian Burns a year ago, lost defensive tackle Derrick Brown to a season-ending injury after one game and paid the price for it, finishing dead last in yards allowed per game, QB pressure percentage (25.5) and 29th in sacks per pass attempt in 2024," Shook wrote.

"Brown returns in 2025, and while I love D.J. Wonnum, Carolina simply needs more punch along its defensive front. I'm not quite sure who the Bengals would want the Panthers to send them, but the first-round pick that would be required sure projects to be valuable, given most don't expect the Panthers to be a playoff contender in 2025."

Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson attends a preseason training camp practice
Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson attends a preseason training camp practice. | Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

A trade for Hendrickson could cost a pretty penny, but it's something the Panthers should be willing to spend. With three years left on Bryce Young's rookie contract, the Panthers have cap space they can use elsewhere on the roster.

The Panthers were tied for 29th in the NFL last season with 32 sacks. Hendrickson had 17.5 by himself with the Bengals in 2024.

Hendrickson would probably command a lot of double teams if he joined the Panthers, but that would free up Wonnum and other pass rushers to get after the quarterback.

If the Panthers were willing to part ways with an early pick in 2026, they might be able to land Hendrickson and send a message to the league that they mean business in the upcoming season.

Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson pass rushes at the line of scrimmage against the Pittsburgh Steelers
Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson pass rushes at the line of scrimmage against the Pittsburgh Steelers. | Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

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Jeremy Brener
JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.

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