The Indianapolis Colts have claimed to want to get younger and more athletic on the defensive front seven, and that means finding some help for edge rusher Laiatu Latu. One player who could help at an elite level, though, isn't young anymore but would be a great addition: Trey Hendrickson.
Hendrickson is a free agent this offseason, is 31 years old, and is coming off an injury-plagued 2025 season. That all sounds bad, of course, but the hope is that he will be rejuvenated with a new team, and the Colts would make the perfect team.
Should Indy sign Hendrickson, he would be paired with his former defensive coordinator with the Cincinnati Bengals, Lou Anarumo. Anarumo, of course, is the current DC for Indianapolis. Hendrickson's best seasons came while being coached by Anarumo, and the DC obviously knows best how to use the edge rusher.
Indianapolis Colts could pair Laiatu Latu with Trey Hendrickson for superhuman edge duo
The problem, of course, is money. Indy doesn't currently have any. The team still hopes to re-sign quarterback Daniel Jones to a long-term deal after applying the transition tag to him just days ago. Should Jones work out a new deal, his cap hit would be lowered, helping free up some cash.
Even if Indianapolis had loads of free money, signing Trey Hendrickson would probably eat into that quite a bit. According to Spotrac, the edge rusher is projected to receive a new deal that pays him $25.4 million a season over two years.
He will likely be worth every penny, and certainly would be so for the Indianapolis Colts. Laiatu Latu needs help.
In 2025, the second-year pro had a very good 61 total pressures, but that was 23 better than the next-best producer on Indy's roster. His 8.5 sacks doubled the second-highest player. Latu wasn't simply the Colts' best edge rusher, playing the run well, too, but it seemed as if he was oftentimes supplying the only quarterback pressure.
Hendrickson played in just seven games this past season, but he still had four sacks. In both 2023 and 2024, he had 17.5 sacks. He is a far better pass rusher than run-stopper, but that is what the Indianapolis Colts need. Stopping the run is a group effort; getting home on quarterbacks can sometimes be done by one player. Just ask Latu.
Realistically, will the Colts be able to sign Trey Hendrickson? Probably not, though he could be willing to accept a one-year deal to see how well he can do again under Lou Anarumo. Coupled with Latu, Hendrickson would help give Indianapolis one of the best pass-rush bookend duos in the NFL.