Buccaneers could make blockbuster trade that would make them Super Bowl bound
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers could soon be buyers as the NFL trade deadline approaches, and one intriguing name has emerged on their radar.
According to Pro Football Focus, Cincinnati Bengals edge rusher Trey Hendrickson is viewed as a potential trade candidate, and Tampa Bay might be a logical fit.
The Buccaneers are off to a strong start, but adding an elite pass rusher like Hendrickson could take Tampa Bay’s defense to another level as they continue their push for NFC supremacy.
A Top Pass Rusher Possibly on the Move
PFF recently listed Trey Hendrickson among the league’s top trade candidates, noting that despite his standout production, the Bengals could look to sell if their season continues to spiral. “Even though Hendrickson signed a one-year, $29 million contract to remain in Cincinnati this offseason, it doesn’t feel like this song and dance is done just yet,” PFF wrote. “The 2024 All-Pro has been fabulous as usual with a 90.3 PFF pass-rushing grade and an 86.5 overall mark, yet the Bengals’ defense still ranks 29th in EPA per play.”
With Cincinnati sitting at 2-4 and quarterback Joe Burrow sidelined until at least December, the Bengals might be ready to start looking toward the future. And if that’s the case, Hendrickson becomes one of their most valuable trade assets, a pass-rusher still in his prime and producing at an elite level.
Why Hendrickson Fits in Tampa Bay
For the Buccaneers, pursuing Hendrickson would make plenty of sense. Head coach Todd Bowles has built his defense around pressure and disruption up front, and Hendrickson’s relentless motor fits that mold perfectly. Tampa Bay’s defensive front has been solid, but pairing Hendrickson with players like Haason Reddick, Vita Vea, and YaYa Diaby could transform it into one of the NFL’s most dominant units.
Tampa Bay is also in “win-now” mode behind quarterback Baker Mayfield, and Hendrickson’s arrival could be the type of midseason move that elevates a contender. His addition wouldn’t come cheap, but for a team with championship aspirations, it could be worth the price.
If the Bengals decide to sell, expect the Buccaneers to make the call at least. Adding a proven All-Pro edge rusher could be the missing piece to their defensive puzzle.
Vikings QB Carson Wentz Primed for ‘Revenge Game’ in Week 7
There is one specific storyline that’s going to come up whenever any NFL team faces one of its old starting quarterbacks. One part of that formula is we can usually ratchet up that attention the higher the draft pick.
While some of that luster may have been lost for a variety of reasons, when the Minnesota Vikings host the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles in Week 7, they’ll do so with Carson Wentz starting at quarterback in place of injured 2024 first round pick J.J. McCarthy.
That’s notable because Wentz, once upon a time, was the player the Eagles pinned all of their franchise hopes and dreams on.
To recap: Philadelphia drafted Wentz No. 2 overall out of North Dakota State in the 2016 NFL draft, watched him earn NFL All-Pro honors and win a Super Bowl in his second season and signed him to a 4-year, $128 million contract extension before the 2019 season.
To say Wentz doesn’t have extra motivation against the team he used to play for and the player who ultimately took his spot in quarterback and reigning Super Bowl MVP Jalen Hurts would be to simply deny the human condition.
No matter what anyone on either side might say, it matters.
There was some speculation McCarthy might return for the Vikings after missing the last 4 games due to an ankle injury until head coach Kevin O’Connell announced Wentz would make his fourth consecutive start.
“The Carson Wentz revenge game is officially on,” NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo wrote on his official X account on October 17. “Kevin O’Connell announces Wentz will start for the Vikings against the Eagles.”
‘Revenge’ Narrative Not Really What It Seems
This isn’t the first time Wentz has faced his old team. In his only other time facing the Eagles, Wentz started for the Washington Commanders in a 24-8 loss in 2022 in which he was largely ineffective, going 25-of-43 passing for 211 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions.
No matter how media types might want to spin it, sometimes a “revenge” narrative might not always be what it seems — something Eagles Pin Pull podcast host Shane Haff astutely pointed out is the case with Wentz.
“Hard to call it a revenge game when the team benched you while you were playing terribly and then acquiesced to your trade request in the offseason, trading you to the coach you wanted to play for,” Haff wrote on his official X account on October 17. “The Eagles didn’t do wrong by Carson Wentz. Every time a player plays a former team we don’t have to call it a ‘revenge’ game.”
Wentz Made NFL History in 2025
Wentz made NFL history when he started for the Vikings in Week 3 against the Cincinnati Bengals, becoming the first quarterback to start for 6 different teams in 6 consecutive seasons.
Wentz started 12 games for the Eagles in 2020, 17 games for the Indianapolis Colts in 2021, 7 games for the Commanders in 2022, 1 game for the Los Angeles Rams in 2023 and 1 game for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2024.
“If he starts for the Vikings this weekend, Carson Wentz would become the first quarterback in NFL history to start at least one game for six different teams in six consecutive seasons,” ESPN’s Bill Barnwell wrote on his official X account on September 15.
