Panthers named 'perfect landing spot' for NFL's top sack artist

Should the Carolina Panthers make Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson trade in his stripes?

That's a scenario that makes sense to FOX Sports reporter David Helman, who recently named the "perfect" landing spots for each of this spring's minicamp holdouts. And with Hendrickson still waiting on the Bengals to offer up a new contract extension, Helman links 2024's top sack artist to the other "Queen City."

He writes:

Carolina doesn’t currently fit the mold of a contender that a 30-year-old All-Pro like Hendrickson would likely want to play for, but that’s the risk of asking for a trade. Maybe he and the Bengals can still reach an agreement on a new contract. But if not, maybe he can help the Panthers navigate the type of impressive turnaround he was part of in Cincinnati.

Hendrickson recorded an NFL-high 17.5 sacks this past season, 3.5 more than the next closest player. He also notched career-bests with 46 combined tackles and six passes defensed, so it's no wonder why the now-four-time Pro Bowler is seeking out a fresh deal.

But would Carolina be willing to give Hendrickson that, as well as the compensation to acquire him?

That might be a tough ask for the Panthers, who have already invested quite a bit of resources into their pass-rushing department this offseason. In addition to signing former Minnesota Viking Pat Jones II to a two-year, $20 million deal out of free agency, the team used their second- and third-round picks of the 2025 NFL draft on Texas A&M's Nic Scourton and Ole Miss' Princely Umanmielen.

With the 26-year-old Jones and the two promising rookies in tow, the organization seems intent on letting their youth movement play out. (That may have already been evident by their release of 32-year-old Jadeveon Clowney, even despite his relatively solid 2024 campaign.)

So as crazy as it sounds, there may be no room on Carolina's current timeline for the NFL's leading sack-getter.

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This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: Panthers named 'perfect landing spot' for Bengals DE Trey Hendrickson