Context:

The Washington Commanders have been aggressively enhancing their roster this offseason to prepare for a Super Bowl run by 2025, focusing on building around quarterback Jayden Daniels. Key veteran players such as Bobby Wagner and Zach Ertz were retained, while significant trades brought in talents like wide receiver Deebo Samuel and left tackle Laremy Tunsil. Despite these moves, the Commanders still lack a dominant pass rusher after losing Dante Fowler Jr., a gap they hope to fill with Cincinnati Bengals' Trey Hendrickson, who is frustrated with his current team over contract negotiations. Hendrickson, the NFL's 2024 sack leader, has been given permission to seek a trade, and the Commanders are seen as strong contenders to acquire him. Hendrickson's addition could be pivotal for Washington, aiming to maximize their investment in Daniels and reshape the team's competitive culture.

Dive Deeper:

• The Washington Commanders have made strategic offseason acquisitions to bolster their team, aiming for a Super Bowl victory by 2025, while also preparing for a significant contract with quarterback Jayden Daniels.

• Veteran leaders like Bobby Wagner and Zach Ertz have been crucial to the team’s efforts, alongside the acquisition of dynamic wide receiver Deebo Samuel, who is expected to excel in Kliff Kingsbury’s offense.

• A surprise trade for six-time Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil from the Houston Texans further strengthens the Commanders’ offensive line, adding to their robust roster.

• Despite these improvements, Washington faces a critical need for a top-tier pass rusher, as their previous sack leader, Dante Fowler Jr., left for the Dallas Cowboys, leaving a void in their defensive lineup.

• Trey Hendrickson of the Cincinnati Bengals, the NFL's sack leader in 2024, has expressed frustration over stalled contract talks and is exploring trade options, with the Commanders positioned as a potential destination.

• Adding Hendrickson could fill the Commanders' defensive gap and significantly enhance their championship prospects, as well as solidify their strategy to capitalize on Daniels’ current contract.

• Analysts and sports media highlight Hendrickson’s potential impact on Washington’s team culture and performance, underscoring the importance of this acquisition in their long-term planning.

• The Washington Commanders have spent the offseason adding critical pieces in a clear effort to make a run at the Super Bowl in 2025 and over the next few seasons before they have to give Jayden Daniels a major payday. 

• From the moment the offseason began, Commanders GM Adam Peters began making moves to give Washington the best chance to ride the momentum from last year’s magical season that ended in the NFC Championship game. It began with bringing back key veteran contributors and locker room leaders like Bobby Wagner, Zach Ertz and Tress Way. 

• The Commanders then made their first big splash by trading for 49ers dynamic WR Deebo Samuel, who feels like a perfect fit for OC Kliff Kingsbury’s offense and should be a great weapon for Daniels. 

• And then in a move nobody saw coming, the Washington Commanders traded for 6-time Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil from the Houston Texans. 

• They added veteran depth pieces on defense like longtime Patriots CB Jonathan Jones and  gave a significant chunk of cash to Javon Kinlaw, a former fist round pick who hasn’t reached his potential in the NFL quite yet. 

• The Commanders addressed a glaring need on defense in the NFL by landing Ole Miss CB Trey Amos in the second round of the NFL Draft, a player many professional talent evaluators had graded as a first round talent. 

• But Washington came out of the most active point of free agency and the NFL Draft with one glaring need the Commanders have yet to address. 

• They don’t have a single dominant pass rusher, or anyone on the roster with an even track record of getting to opposing quarterbacks regularly. Last season, Dante Fowler Jr. led the team in sacks with 10.5, but Washington let him walk in free agency. 

• After not landing one of the available edge rushers in the hot part of free agency, most fans and media covering the team figured Washington would select one in the NFL Draft, but it’s now mid May and the Commanders still haven’t addressed a massive need. 

• But earlier this week there was a significant development coming out of Cincinnati that put the Commanders back in the conversation for one of the top edge rushers in the league in a major way. 

• On Monday, Bengals pass rusher Trey Hendrickson told ESPN he hasn’t heard from the team and isn’t anywhere close to reaching a contract extension, while the team already paid its to top receivers. 

• The All-Pro defensive end told ESPN made it clear he was frustrated. Hendrickson is coming off his second-straight year with 17.5 sacks, which led the NFL in 2024.

•  "Rather than using collaboration to ... bring me home to the team, they are no longer communicating," Hendrickson said. "I have been eagerly awaiting a resolution of this situation, but that's hard to do when there is no discussion and an evident lack of interest in reaching mutual goals."

• Hendrickson's statement came two months after reports indicated the Bengals had given the Pro Bowl pass rusher permission to seek a trade. 

• CBS Sports believes it’s only a matter of time until Hendrickson is traded to another team and listed the Commanders as one of the most likely suitors: 

• After losing sack leader Dante Fowler Jr. to the Dallas Cowboys, the presence of Hendrickson would be an enormous upgrade. Bobby Wagner may be coming back, but his prime days as a pass rusher are behind him. Hendrickson should be their last crown jewel piece for a Super Bowl.

• Anthony Palacios of Last Word on Sports echoed the same sentiment: 

• The Washington Commanders have been linked to the star pass rusher ever since he was granted a trade this offseason. However, it’ll be up to the Commanders to decide what type of offer they want to give to Hendrickson, as he could be the prominent NFL athlete who can change the culture forever in Washington. They’ve done away with drafting quarterback Jayden Daniels and building a high-caliber offense for him to succeed. With that, it makes sense that Washington would trade for Hendrickson since they’re trying to maximize Daniels’ contract before his deal is up.

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