Trey Hendrickson will not play for Bengals on present deal: The place do each events go from right here?

Trey Hendrickson is current at Cincinnati Bengals offseason exercises. The important thing phrase being current. Hendrickson spoke to the media for practically 25 minutes on Tuesday because the Bengals’ voluntary OTA session was open to the media. Twenty-five minutes is a very long time for any participant to talk to the media, but Hendrickson had just a few issues to get off his chest. 

Hendrickson informed Bengals reporters he is turn out to be disenchanted with the workforce’s lack of communication and the contract scenario with the workforce has turn out to be “private.” He additionally said the Bengals are not discussing contract talks with him, leaving the star cross rusher accessible to play elsewhere if they’ll discover a commerce companion. 

He will not play with the Bengals this season underneath his present contract, however left the connection open-ended. Mainly, the ball is within the Bengals’ courtroom to enhance negotiations with Hendrickson. He’s set to earn $15.8 million this season, the ultimate 12 months of his contract with the workforce.

A four-time Professional Bowler and All-Professional from final season, Hendrickson’s worth has by no means been greater. The Bengals cross rusher is the fifth participant in NFL historical past with 17+ sacks in back-to-back seasons — and the primary since J.J. Watt from 2014-2015. He has 49% of the Bengals’ sacks from final season — the best price within the NFL. Hendrickson has 70.5 sacks over the previous 5 seasons, trailing solely T.J. Watt (73.5) and Myles Garrett (72.0) in that span. 

With Hendrickson seemingly accessible, what’s the subsequent section for him and the Bengals going ahead? 

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Cody Benjamin

Is there a marketplace for Hendrickson this late within the offseason? 

In fact groups will need to get their fingers on a 30-year-old cross rusher who’s coming off a 17-sack season. Hendrickson was probably the greatest cross rushers in soccer in 2024, main the league with 17.5 sacks and tying for first within the NFL with 83 pressures with Garrett. He was additionally second in quarterback hits with 36. 

Groups can by no means have sufficient pass-rushing assist, particularly with a pass-rushing specialist like Hendrickson accessible. The wage should be considerably greater than the $15.8 million, however any workforce buying Hendrickson could make it work. 

How a lot can Hendrickson make with a brand new contract?

Garrett is the highest-paid cross rusher in soccer, making a mean annual wage at $40 million a season. Danielle Hunter is second at $35.6 million, and Maxx Crosby is third at $35.5 million. All have acquired new offers this offseason. 

Hendrickson is eleventh in common annual wage at $21 million per season, however he is nonetheless underpaid. The fifth-highest paid edge rusher is Josh Hines-Allen at $28.3 million, which could possibly be the barometer for Hendrickson. Regardless, Hendrickson is due for a big increase from no matter workforce employs him in 2025. 

What groups have probably the most cap house? 

These are the 5 groups with probably the most wage cap house accessible, per the NFLPA. Every of those groups might (theoretically) might give Hendrickson an extension and nonetheless have loads of cap house final over in the event that they selected to accumulate him. 

In fact, groups can backload the Hendrickson contract and tie up cap house in later seasons. With Hendrickson possible getting a shorter-team contract with potential void years, paying him extra up entrance stands out as the smarter transfer. 

So what is the Bengals’ subsequent transfer?

If Cincinnati does not intend on giving Hendrickson a brand new deal, it is best for the Bengals to get worth for him. With one 12 months left on his contract, the Bengals might save $16 million in wage cap house if they’ll commerce Hendrickson — irrespective of if the deal is earlier than or after June 1. There isn’t any rush to get a deal achieved. 

What probably might the Bengals obtain for Hendrickson? Actually a first-round decide can be the asking value on condition that the draft has handed and the season will not begin till September. The contending groups can be extra more likely to match a first-round asking value fairly than a workforce that’s rebuilding in 2025. 

If the Bengals can get a second-round decide for Hendrickson or a number of picks in return, that commerce can be thought-about a win. The Bengals dedicated to paying Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins this offseason, so there could also be no extra room within the price range for Hendrickson — particularly for the reason that Joe Burrow contract is beginning to kick in. 

That is about having money for the longer term, one the Bengals possible do not assume Hendrickson is part of. It is best to seek out one of the best supply for Hendrickson and transfer on earlier than the scenario will get worse.