Trey Hendrickson Is Great But There Is A Far Likelier Bears Trade Target

Improving the pass rush was a stated goal for the Chicago Bears this offseason. They've accomplished that to a degree. Grady Jarrett and Shemar Turner should help the interior, while Dayo Odeyingbo gives them a solid option at defensive end opposite Montez Sweat. Still, many feel GM Ryan Poles must do more. Odeyingbo is fine, but nobody would consider him a genuine second edge rusher. He's more of a utility guy who creates matchups inside and outside. Everybody is talking about Trey Hendrickson for obvious reasons. However, the truth is that acquiring him would be too expensive.

The Bears would need to clear up more cap space to manage his contract and likely give up at least a 2nd round pick for his services. If they were positioned for a championship run? That would make sense. They aren't there yet. What this team needs is another reliable option who can be good for around eight sacks. One name that might be out there for the taking is D.J. Wonnum—the former Minnesota Vikings standout spent last season in Carolina, which was cut short by injuries. The Panthers added three new edge rushers between free agency and the draft, leaving his status up in the air.

In the wake of drafting edge-defenders Nic Scourton and Princely Umanmielen, the Carolina Panthers have already released Jadeveon Clowney. D.J. Wonnum, who is entering the final year of his contract, could be next.

Wonnum was solid last season, notching four sacks in eight games following an offseason of quad surgeries. However, the Panthers added Scourton, Umanmielen and free agent Patrick Jones II (7.0 sacks in 2024) to the edge rotation this offseason. Cutting Wonnum would save $7 million in cap space.

Wonnum isn't Trey Hendrickson, but he's still good.

He proved in Minnesota that he can be that eight-sack-per-year guy. He did it twice in three seasons before leaving in free agency. Wonnum doesn't have the same explosiveness as Trey Hendrickson. Still, he has mastered a set of tools and would fit well in Dennis Allen's system thanks to his size and length. Will Carolina trade him? That likely depends on what they see from their new additions over the coming weeks. If it looks like they can play immediately, the team may look to unload Wonnum to free up cap space. Chicago could easily flip them a late round pick. He's only 27 years old and still has plenty of good football in him. His $7.8 million cap hit is also manageable for the Bears, who secured $8 million recently from Joe Thuney's extension.