If the Dallas Cowboys want to do something they haven’t done in over 30 years and compete for a Super Bowl, maybe it’s time for them to start doing things they’re not expected to do.
In this case, that means signing an aging but still potent edge rusher in NFL sacks leader Trey Hendrickson, which a pair of NFL insiders think is the key to becoming one of the NFC’s legitimate contenders.
Hendrickson is a free agent after a couple of contentious years with the Cincinnati Bengals, in which he tried and failed to get a contract extension several times and tried and failed to get traded several times.
“Let’s give the Cowboys Trey Hendrickson because they need an impact edge rusher,” ESPN NFL reporter Dan Graziano said on Friday. “It’s an uncharacteristic move for the Cowboys because he’s older, but maybe a short-term deal for the 31-year-old makes sense.
Trey Hendrickson Missed 10 Games With Injuries
Hendrickson was playing on a 1-year, $29 million contract in 2025 and ended up missing 10 games due to injuries — his 4.0 sacks were his lowest total since his 2nd NFL season with the New Orleans Saints in 2018.
In 2023 and 2024, Hendrickson put together consecutive seasons with 17.5 sacks, leading the NFL in that category in 2024.
Through his first 9 NFL seasons, Hendrickson has approximately $95.4 million in career earnings.
“Besides last year being bad, he’s been as good as any pass rusher in the NFL the last few seasons,” ESPN analyst and former NFL quarterback Tim Hasselbeck said on Friday. “If you can beat the market to a guy like Hendrickson and don’t have to give up draft picks in a trade, you can end up spending that money elsewhere to improve the defense.”
NFC South Team Could Have Inside Track
While the Cowboys should most certainly make an offer for Hendrickson, there’s a chance he already has his mind made up when it comes to his next destination.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter said the Tampa Bay Buccaneers likely have the inside track on Hendrickson, a Florida native who played college football for Florida Atlantic and lives in Florida in the offseason.
“I think that he would love to be in Tampa,” Schefter said on the “Pardon My Take” podcast. “I think he would love to be in Tampa. He lives in Ponte Verde. I don’t think the Jaguars have the requisite cap room for him. Tampa would be a great fit. I think in a perfect world, Trey would like to stay in Florida. No state income tax. But, he’s also open to going to the best possible situation. If Trey has a pick, I think he’d like to end up (with the Bucs), but we will see if it works out that way.”
The Buccaneers took a big swing at edge rusher in free agency in 2025 when they signed 2-time NFL All-Pro Haason Reddick to a 1-year, $14 million contract — a deal that resulted in Reddick only registering 2.5 sacks. It was one of the many missteps that led the Buccaneers to an 8-9 finish and saw them miss the playoffs for the 1st time since 2019.
Cowboys Urged to Make ‘Uncharacteristic’ Move for NFL Sacks Leader