Trade season!
The Washington Commanders are in the market for pass rushers and they’ve been linked to every big name that’s been on the trade block, and some pending free agents. Trading for Myles Garrett seemed like a long-shot, but the possibility made plenty of headlines in Washington and Philadelphia since Garrett declared during Super Bowl week that he was done in Cleveland, and wanted to spend the rest of his career with a winning team. Multiple first round picks were floated as the cost for the future Hall of Famer, but all the trade scenarios ended with this morning’s news.
The Cleveland Browns are making Myles Garrett the highest-paid defensive end in the NFL, and he’s staying with Cleveland for the next five years. He’ll average $40 million per season and has $123.5 million. He’s probably never winning a Super Bowl in Cleveland, but he’s financially secure for a long time thanks to this new deal.
From trade to truce and beyond: the Browns and Myles Garrett reached agreement today on a record contract extension that averages $40 million per year and includes $123.5 million in guaranteed money and now makes him the highest-paid non-QB in NFL history, sources tell ESPN.… pic.twitter.com/scNWJH2vFX
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 9, 2025
The next biggest name on the defensive end trade market is Cincinnati Bengals pass rusher Trey Hendrickson. The Washington Commanders continue to show interest, but the cost to acquire him will be high in both draft capital and salary cap money. He isn’t expected to command multiple first round picks like Garrett, but it will likely take some high picks to get him out of Cincinnati. He’s also looking for a new deal that will pay him $30+ million per year.
The Washington Commanders have already made several trades(Lattimore, Samuel) that have dropped them down to six picks for next month’s draft. Adam Peters wants to build this team through the draft, but is also aggressively working to add talent to the team to take advantage of the early success they’ve had with QB Jayden Daniels who was drafted 2nd overall last year.
Dianna Russini from the Athletic reported this morning that the Washington Commanders are still interested in trading for Hendrickson. This report came out before the Myles Garrett news broke, but Cleveland wasn’t interested in trading him, so that path had remained closed. Hendrickson would be a big upgrade for a position that was patched together with free agents last year. Dante Fowler Jr and Clelin Ferrell are both free agents again, and only Fowler would draw interest in a return after Ferrell’s injury- limited season. Dorance Armstrong remains along with Javontae Jean-Baptiste who was a Day 3 pick last year.
The Commanders are among the many teams exploring a potential trade for Bengals All-Pro Trey Hendrickson, per sources.
Hendrickson was granted permission to seek a trade last Thursday by Cincinnati.
One NFL executive shared, the Bengals are looking for “significant trade… pic.twitter.com/XotIMlQwJ6
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) March 9, 2025
The Maxx Crosby $35.5M-per-year deal did indeed spark Cincinnati’s decision to let Trey Hendrickson try to find a new team that will pay significantly more than the Bengals’ current offer, which is likely in the range of $28M annually. https://t.co/IPRZcskpgf
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) March 9, 2025