Let's talk about Trey Hendrickson

[speedkilz88]

Whether we sign either one of them, im confused as to how they line up. Neither one of them play OLB, maybe Crosby can cover a bit, but he hasnt really been asked to. In any event we need OLBs dont we? Im really curious to see how Parkers defense lines up.

If they sign or trade for one they play OLB unless they are around 280 plus then they could play end. Broaddus claimed on one of his podcast that Bain would be an end though and he's not that big.

 

[speedkilz88]

I don’t see a good fit with Hendrickson.
1, We don’t know if he can play on his feet as an OLB.
2. He is awful vs the run.
3. He is older, injury risk, and only 10 sacks last year.
4. If he isn’t comfortable on his feet, it’s hard to give different looks if he can’t drop off in coverage a bit.

If the Cowboys want him, they will sign him, and that will mean the staff has a plan for him. In that case, I’ll celebrate, but I find it hard to believe they want a pass rusher who can’t play the run and is 31 to be their highest paid defender.

10 sks would be great but he only had 4 sks last year. He had an injury and missed 10 games. But he had 17;5 in 2023 & again in 2024.

He played OLB his first 3 years with NO but he didn't have big sack years until he moved to DE. But that just may be coincidence and more to do with the light turning on.

 

[charron]

Good DE if he can stay healthy but theyD still need OLB/stand up rushers for some of their 5 man fronts they want to play.

 

[Kingofholland]

I wonder if we

Signing him will be expensive but I'm sure there's a way we since he's a FA we can lower his cap hit for the first year. On the other hand it WON'T cost us any draft picks, which we can use to add more pieces to this Cowboys 2026 puzzle. Yes he's a bit older, but he's still a TOP pass rusher, please give your thoughts on this

I like gambling with Hendrickson way more than trading draft capital for Crosby. Crosby is certainly a better all around player, but the Cowboys really need to find some talented young players on minimal contracts in the draft to offset some of the large ones they already have. They have no 2nd or 3rd round picks as it is. I certainly get there are injury concerns with Hendrickson, but he's been relatively healthy prior to last year and he did produce 4 sacks when he played which would put him on pace for about 10 sacks. I would certainly take that, while keeping draft capital to address other positions.

 

[KingCorcoran]

I wonder if we

I like gambling with Hendrickson way more than trading draft capital for Crosby. Crosby is certainly a better all around player, but the Cowboys really need to find some talented young players on minimal contracts in the draft to offset some of the large ones they already have. They have no 2nd or 3rd round picks as it is. I certainly get there are injury concerns with Hendrickson, but he's been relatively healthy prior to last year and he did produce 4 sacks when he played which would put him on pace for about 10 sacks. I would certainly take that, while keeping draft capital to address other positions.

Hendrickson signed a four year deal with the Bengals in 2021. Two years in he asked for more money. Bengals upped his pay and added another year to the deal. Two years later, still under contract he wanted more money again. The Bengals balked at an extension/raise and Hendrickson went home saying he wouldn’t play. The Bengals eventually offered more money, but no extension. At that point Hendrickson, facing fines and a team standing its ground, took the extra millions offered and played 2025. No wonder Cincinnati, who knows him better than the other 31 teams and can calculate what he’s worth, didn’t even want to risk tagging him for fear of ending up stuck with him. That would have been slightly over $30 million all hitting their 2026 cap. I’m sure they were happy just to be done with him.

That said, is this the kind of player Jerry Jones would consider signing? Even if he agrees to a contract he doesn't feel obliged to honor it. Jerry may be dumb, but he’s not stupid. Forget the Trey Hendrickson to the Cowboys nonsense.

 

[NDGAEDE]

Considering we were the worst defense in world history last year, we shouldn't turn our noses up at anybody. Sign them all. Old, young, injured, unproven, washed up, expensive, cheap. Don't care. Sign all the players and let Stephen sort it out.

 

[thunderpimp91]

Are you considering every down he didn’t have his hand down as him being a LB?

The games I saw, they always had a LB behind him even when he was standing up.

He’s only had 17 pass defenses in his entire Bengals career.

Not completely. I'm looking more at alignment. The actual numbers I'm getting are what PFF is charting, but an OLB to me has more to do with the type of front a defense is running then where the edge is actually aligned. I don't have a ton of time this morning, but here is a quicker 2ish minute video of a couple series from two games Cincinnati played this year and you can see what I'm looking at here.


Play 1 - More of the 5 man type of front look with Hendrickson wide almost covering the WR in a 2 point stance. To me that is what a lot of our "3-4" looks will be this year.
Play 2 - Even front but with a wide alignment. Probably more of the leo/reo hybrid style is what I would classify that as
Play 3 - Covering the TE in a flat footed stance. If his jersey number was in the 40s or 50s anyone would say thats an OLB playing up on the LOS
Play 4 - Even front, 2 point stance
Play 5 - 6 men on the LOS, Hendrickson in a wide alignment 2 point stance...IMO this plays like a 3-4 OLB
Play 6 - Another 5 man front, something the Cowboys probably use often
Play 7 - 5 man front - Hendrickson drops into coverage
Play 8 - 6 man on LOS - Hendrickson out wide 2 point stance, all rush
Play 9 - Even front, Hendrickson out wide in 2 point stance
Play 10 - More traditional even front look
Play 11 - Flat footed stance over the TE again, simulating a backer up on the LOS
Play 12 - Another 5 man front look w/ Hendrickson outside the TE

We can argue what should or shouldnt be an OLB, but I think the alignment and techniques we see Hendrickson playing on these few plays is going to look very similar to what we run this season and expect from our OLBs, and isnt that far off of what Philly ran last year too. My guess is you probably have more of a DE style player on one side who takes on some OLB responsibility which is where landing a Hendrickson or Crosby would fit. The other you have more of an OLB who takes on some DE responsibilities....this is likely more of where the Overshown/Liufau to EDGE probably comes in, similar to #44 on the Bengals.

 

[Einstein]

Whether we sign either one of them, im confused as to how they line up. Neither one of them play OLB, maybe Crosby can cover a bit, but he hasnt really been asked to. In any event we need OLBs dont we? Im really curious to see how Parkers defense lines up.

Yeah, if we are running a 3-4 base, where does a traditional 4-3 DE fit in. Goes for him and Maxx. That's probably a big reason we haven't resigned Clowney at this point.

 

[KDM256]

Trey is going to want top dollar at his next destination and I wish him the best, just hope it's not with the Cowboys. Too many questionable(s) for my liking and I don't want Dallas in the business for paying aging players "top dollars" for stats they did 3 or 4 years ago. We definitely don't need Logan Wilson 2.0 situation.

I rather take my chances on youth at this position

 

[blueblood70]

The problem is that it is very difficult to evaluate him.

Something like 3 years, $75m probably gets it done but it's hard to know if he's a 6-sack or a 16-sack player right now.

That’s the risk with free agency or the draft—you never really know what you’re getting and just have to hope you’re betting on the right player. The Eagles gave Brian Huff a three-year deal worth $17 million annually, and it completely backfired. They ended up spending around $56 million on a pass rusher who didn’t even suit up for the Super Bowl, as he was a healthy scratch. It happens all the time. The Cowboys need a solid pass rusher who can set the edge and play the run—maybe a strong-side guy—but it’s still better than overspending to outbid teams for someone like Max Crosby, especially with the Raiders constantly moving the goalposts on trade compensation. I don’t blame Jerry for walking away; they’re tired of the games. They tried last year at the trade deadline, and now again, but the Raiders just don’t seem interested in dealing realistically. The Cowboys should target a pass rusher—maybe Hendrickson—but it’s not about whether he’ll get six or seventeen sacks. That depends more on the scheme and the players around him.

Trust Christian Parker and his new dream team staff, LOL,

to evaluate the right fit, by reviewing all the film from the past two seasons, identifying strengths and weaknesses, and then advising Jerry to make the move. There are more options beyond just the two main names being discussed, and some may be an even better fit for Parker’s defense.

 

[LouBrown]

Yeah, if we are running a 3-4 base, where does a traditional 4-3 DE fit in. Goes for him and Maxx. That's probably a big reason we haven't resigned Clowney at this point.

They're still going to be predominantly in nickel.

Clowney isn't really comparable to Crosby or Hendrickson (theoretically) because he isn't nearly as dynamic as a passrusher.