NY Jets reportedly interested in signing DE Trey Hendrickson

Justin Fried

NY Jets, Trey Hendrickson Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

The NY Jets are expected to explore the pass-rush market in free agency. And one name they’ve been closely connected to has been former New Orleans Saints defensive end Trey Hendrickson.

As reported by Josina Anderson, the Jets are one of three teams showing interest in Hendrickson, along with the Minnesota Vikings and Cleveland Browns.

As the Jets look to reshape their edge-rush rotation this offseason, it’s likely that the team targets the position in free agency. Hendrickson is arguably the top player at his position remaining on the market.

With Shaquil Barrett and Romeo Okwara re-signed, it’s clear that the market for pass-rushers is active and fast-moving this offseason. Could Hendrickson be the next name to come off the board?

Trey Hendrickson makes sense for the NY Jets

A third-round pick of the Saints in the 2017 NFL Draft, Hendrickson was mostly an afterthought through his first few seasons in the league. Hampered by injuries, the former FAU star managed just two sacks in his first two years in the NFL.

However, he forced his way into the rotation in 2019 recording 3.5 sacks in 13 games. Hendrickson showed signs of future production, but few could have expected the breakout campaign he had in store for 2020.

As a full-time starter, Hendrickson exploded on to the scene finishing with a team-leading 13.5 sacks and 25 QB hits. He established himself as one of the best pass-rushers in the NFC and now is looking to get paid as such.

There will be some concern about Hendrickson given his prior injury history and his lone year of production. But he’s a perfect scheme fit for the Jets and at just 26-years-old, he makes a ton of sense.

Hendrickson stands at 6-foot-4, 270 pounds, and is an ideal fit in Robert Saleh’s defense as a 4-3 defensive end. His blend of power and speed give him sky-high potential in Saleh’s system provided he can maintain the same level of production.

The Jets are far from the only team that will be looking to add Hendrickson this offseason, but they seem to be one of the teams showing the most interest.

Keep an eye on Hendrickson as the pass-rush market continues to develop.

Justin Fried

Justin Fried is an editor for FanSided who has over seven years of experience covering the NFL and various other sports. A diehard Jets fan since birth, Justin has served as the editor for The Jet Press since 2019, interviewing athletes such as Sauce Gardner, Curtis Martin, LaDainian Tomlinson, Joe Klecko, and many others. Justin has also worked closely with brands like Red Bull to help highlight the niche sectors of the sporting world. His four-part series on the sport of breaking remains one of his proudest pieces of work. In his spare time, Justin is an avid pro wrestling fan who is fortunate enough to have traveled to nearly 30 different countries.