Saints defensive end Trey Hendrickson is a rising star
With a fantastic Week 9 performance against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the New Orleans Saints’ Trey Hendrickson put the NFL on notice.
Current New Orleans Saints defensive end, Trey Hendrickson, is becoming a dominant force in the NFL over the first half of the NFL season. This past weekend, he was in Tom Brady‘s face all night, having sacked him on three plays in a row, with one called back for a penalty.
One of the biggest surprises from the 2020 Saints season is the rise in performance from the 4th year edge rusher from Florida Atlantic.
Hendrickson is another name in a list of the 2017 Saints draft of stars alongside Alvin Kamara, Marshon Lattimore, Ryan Ramczyk, and Marcus Williams. This 3rd round pick was included from the trade that sent Brandin Cooks to the New England Patriots.
In the first 8 games of the season, Hendrickson has 7.5 sacks, third to only Aaron Donald and Myles Garrett.
He also has 13 quarterback hits this season, tied with Garret, and only two behind Donald. We’re talking about the Saints third-string defensive end being listed with some of the league’s best pass rushers. That’s the type of year he’s having.
Saints starters Cam Jordan and Marcus Davenport have a combined sack total of 4.0 this season. Hendrickson has benefited from more playing time with Davenport missing a portion of the 2020 season.
Many Saints analysts were hopeful that Davenport would shine now that he has been healthier, but it’s been Hendrickson that has been the star rusher this season. The 25-year-old has also been putting it out that he wants even more as well.
"Getting after the quarterback is just something I was born to do." Trey Hendrickson
— Rod Walker (@RodWalkerNola) November 9, 2020
"I'm hungry. I don't think anybody in a race wants to take third." - Trey Hendrickson after hearing the list of NFL sacks leaders this season: Aaron Donald, Myles Garrett and himself
— Rod Walker (@RodWalkerNola) November 9, 2020
If Hendrickson can keep this pace, he should be in line for a possible Pro Bowl nomination. This would solidify the 2017 Saints draft as their best draft selection year of all time.
What waits next year is a new contract negotiation between Hendrickson and the Saints.
He will become an unrestricted free agent after this season and may command a higher salary given his breakout year. GM Micky Loomis will have quite the task of signing high-potential players yet still letting go of good players after this season.
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Here is Hendrickson speaking to the media after the win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.