Bengals Pro Bowler Trey Hendrickson Is Unlikely Enough for the Cowboys to Trade Micah Parsons

The NFL offseason is a time when trade rumors and speculation run wild, with teams evaluating their rosters and making decisions about potential moves to improve their futures. One of the most intriguing discussions that has emerged is the possibility of the Dallas Cowboys trading their star linebacker Micah Parsons.

While a trade involving such a key player may seem like an extreme long shot, there have been recent whispers about the Bengals’ Pro Bowler Trey Hendrickson possibly being an attractive trade piece for Dallas. However, it’s highly unlikely that the Cowboys would ever part ways with Parsons for a player like Hendrickson.

Micah Parsons has quickly become one of the most dominant defenders in the NFL. Since being drafted by the Cowboys in 2021, he has consistently been at the forefront of Dallas’ defense, earning Pro Bowl honors in both of his first two seasons.

Parsons is widely regarded as a generational talent, with his versatility allowing him to excel both as an edge rusher and as a linebacker. His ability to impact the game in multiple ways has made him the centerpiece of the Cowboys’ defensive scheme.

On the other hand, Trey Hendrickson has proven to be one of the league’s top pass rushers. The Cincinnati Bengals’ defensive end earned his first Pro Bowl selection in 2021 and has been a key part of their defense, particularly in generating pressure on quarterbacks. With 14 sacks in 2021, Hendrickson has shown he can dominate at the line of scrimmage.

However, his impact and skill set remain more specialized in pass rushing, unlike Parsons, whose all-around game and ability to play multiple positions makes him more valuable to Dallas’ defensive strategy.

Even though Hendrickson’s pass-rushing prowess might seem enticing to the Cowboys, trading Parsons for a player like him would not make sense for the future of the franchise. Parsons is a game-changer, and his growth potential is something the Cowboys can’t afford to squander.

Dallas has built their defense around the versatility of Parsons, and trading him away would send the message that they are willing to move on from one of the most promising young players in the league.

Moreover, the value of a top-tier linebacker who can do it all in today’s NFL far outweighs the addition of a specialist, no matter how productive they may be.

Ultimately, while Trey Hendrickson’s name may surface in hypothetical trade scenarios, the Cowboys are highly unlikely to make such a move. Micah Parsons is the foundation of Dallas’ defensive unit, and trading him for a player like Hendrickson would be a short-sighted and questionable decision.

The Cowboys’ future will be tied to the continued development of Parsons, making it improbable that the team would part with him for anything less than a blockbuster package that would significantly alter their defense for the better.