Why Saints must make resigning Trey Hendrickson a top priority:

[tyler735]

2 hours ago, Raves said:

If Hendrickson won't resign for 8-12 mil AAV we need to let him go.  He's not a premiere pass rusher that can just take over a game and dominate on his own that should get 15-20+ mil AAV.  He's a great #2 option that's it.  Aaron Donald, TJ Watt, Bosas, Myles Garrett, JJ Watt, etc that all provide as much or more value in their down years as Hendrickson provided in his best year.

Can't say I agree. What we do know is that he fully took advantage of his first real chance to get significant snaps throughout the course of a season. To the extent that his sacks/pressures were in elite territory. That's not me saying I'm ready to put him in elite company yet, but given his trajectory, it's certainly possible he gets there. I'd also note, he put these excellent numbers up going against teams Left Tackles all season.

Coming into the NFL he was a raw athletic prospect with a bunch of potential coming from a small school, it seems the light bulb has finally turned on for him in the NFL and he is putting it all together.

We know he has a great combination of size, strength and speed comparable to most elite pass rushers in the league.

He's 6'4" 270lbs runs a 4.65 40 time (1.59 10 yard split), and 7.03 3 cone

 

Just for reference here's how some of the leagues best pass rushers stack up athletically:

TJ Watt: 6'4" 252lbs runs a 4.69 40 (1.59 10 yard split), and a 6.79 3 cone

Miles Garrett: 6'4" 272lbs runs a 4.64 40 time (1.63 10 yard split), 3 cone didn't participate

Joey Bosa: 6'5" 265lbs runs a 4.86 40 time, (1.68 10 yard split), and a 6.89 3 cone

Danielle Hunter: 6'5" 252lbs runs a 4.57 40 time (1.57 10 yard split), and a 6.95 3 cone

Nick Bosa: 6'4" 266lbs runs a 4.79 40 time (1.62 10 yard split), and a 7.10 3 cone

 

I know athleticism alone doesn't make him "as good" as these guys, but what it does tell us is that he has an athletic profile that is right up there with the best pass rushers in the league (I've seen quite a few fans underrate his athleticism). What I saw this year in Hendrickson was a guy that was consistently generating pressure in a variety of ways.

He can bull rush a Left Tackle and use brute strength to get pressure on a QB

Or he can beat a Left Tackle using his explosive burst of the line

Or he can use technique to win against LT's

I'm seeing a guy that is showing he can beat LT's in a variety of ways. These types of pass rushers aren't that easy to find in the league, and generally get paid. I'm certainly hoping we are willing to pay more than the 8-12 million number you put out. This past season he put up elite pass rush numbers in his 1st full season of significant snaps. He is still likely just scratching the surface of his potential as he enters his prime at 26 years old. There's a lot of great football in front of him still.

Edited February 8, 2021 by tyler735

[whodatworm23]

You make a great point... even in his first full season as THE starter, he still was in a rotational role which could have suppressed his overall stats. I will not lie, watching his progression and development, Hendrickson is now becoming the player he was in college on the NFL level. He reminds me so much of Jared Allen, I just hate for the Saints to end up like the Chiefs not realizing what they had because they spent to much time focusing on what Allen couldn't do that they lost focus of what Allen COULD do! At least the Chiefs eventually traded Allen for 3 picks including a 1st... Hendrickson is about to walk for nothing and if he does... who's our top edge rusher?

 

Jordan... man he's losing a step.

Davenport... please!

Granderson... Maybe our best hope.

 

Just don't see how Mickey let's him walk, he's to important.

[whodatworm23]

How about this take... Hendrickson wins with power and speed, he faves left tackles consistantly.

 

why should Jordan be viewed as our #1 now? Jordan is a solid player with a all around skill set but he faces right tackles and appears to be on a bit of decline. Hes currently on a manageable contract at 17.5 per. 

 

Hendrickson has proven to our guy off the edge opposite Jordan, why couldn't we pay Hendrickson 18 per year and call him our #1 now and Jordan our #2? 

 

As far as Davenport, I'm sorry the best we can hope for with him is IF... IF Jordan has another down year in 2021, maybe you move on from Jordan and Davenport is extended and becomes the heir apparent to Jordan opposite Hendrickson.

 

Food for thought...

 

But after watching this Superbowl... I'm not in the business of losing my best pass rusher this offseason if I'm Mickey Loomis, especially if I can get Winston on what is basically a Rookie deal. If I can resign Hendrickson to a big deal and weather the cap storm in 2021 then make a decision between Jordan and Davenport next offseason.

 

 

[MookieMonstah]

I don't understand the Trey Hendrickson isn't a game changer sentiment...I'd disagree. Guy was one of the best pass rushers in the NFL, period. That will always be a game changer. He and Marcus Williams need to be retained if the Saints hope to continue having an elite defense. Cam Jordans best years are behind him and with Janoris Jenkins likely on the way out the door, losing him and Williams could be catastrophic. 

[tyler735]

50 minutes ago, whodatworm23 said:

How about this take... Hendrickson wins with power and speed, he faves left tackles consistantly.

 

why should Jordan be viewed as our #1 now? Jordan is a solid player with a all around skill set but he faces right tackles and appears to be on a bit of decline. Hes currently on a manageable contract at 17.5 per. 

 

Hendrickson has proven to our guy off the edge opposite Jordan, why couldn't we pay Hendrickson 18 per year and call him our #1 now and Jordan our #2? 

 

As far as Davenport, I'm sorry the best we can hope for with him is IF... IF Jordan has another down year in 2021, maybe you move on from Jordan and Davenport is extended and becomes the heir apparent to Jordan opposite Hendrickson.

 

Food for thought...

 

But after watching this Superbowl... I'm not in the business of losing my best pass rusher this offseason if I'm Mickey Loomis, especially if I can get Winston on what is basically a Rookie deal. If I can resign Hendrickson to a big deal and weather the cap storm in 2021 then make a decision between Jordan and Davenport next offseason.

Agreed. I think that's how we need to look at it going forward. Essentially Hendrickson and Davenport swapped places as to what we expected them to become. At this point, I think we just need to view it as that. Davenport is nowhere near as good as what it cost to draft him, but Hendrickson has far exceeded his 3rd round status and has essentially become what we wanted Davenport to be. We likely will cut ties with Davenport after his contract barring something unforseen. 

[whodatworm23]

1 hour ago, MookieMonstah said:

I don't understand the Trey Hendrickson isn't a game changer sentiment...I'd disagree. Guy was one of the best pass rushers in the NFL, period. That will always be a game changer. He and Marcus Williams need to be retained if the Saints hope to continue having an elite defense. Cam Jordans best years are behind him and with Janoris Jenkins likely on the way out the door, losing him and Williams could be catastrophic. 

Agreed... Hendrickson’s explosion off the snap and ability to win with both power and speed is everything you want in a edge rusher while Williams ball hawking ability is a coveted asset as a single high safety that I can guarantee you Richard will be coaching. The question is this tho... did the Saints sacrifice these players in their quest to make this last run with Brees or did they figure they would always retain Williams and not expect Hendrickson to breakout like he did and now they simply can't afford both and will have to choose.

 

Personally I say cut or trade whatever veterans you have to in order to get Hendrickson and Williams signed longterm. Take the hit in 2021 and retool moving fwd. No need to keep guys like Janoris Jenkins, Emanual Sanders and others at their age on this team. Get rid of Malcolm Jenkins next offseason and build around your new young core.

[MookieMonstah]

4 hours ago, whodatworm23 said:

Agreed... Hendrickson’s explosion off the snap and ability to win with both power and speed is everything you want in a edge rusher while Williams ball hawking ability is a coveted asset as a single high safety that I can guarantee you Richard will be coaching. The question is this tho... did the Saints sacrifice these players in their quest to make this last run with Brees or did they figure they would always retain Williams and not expect Hendrickson to breakout like he did and now they simply can't afford both and will have to choose.

 

Personally I say cut or trade whatever veterans you have to in order to get Hendrickson and Williams signed longterm. Take the hit in 2021 and retool moving fwd. No need to keep guys like Janoris Jenkins, Emanual Sanders and others at their age on this team. Get rid of Malcolm Jenkins next offseason and build around your new young core.

Agreed. Saints have a good locker room, so I’m thinking they can convince them to take deals with low year 1 cap hits.