The Cincinnati Bengals and star pass rusher Trey Hendrickson are stuck in a seemingly endless staring contest, and it doesn’t appear that either side will blink anytime soon. Hendrickson justifiably wants a raise following a dominant campaign where he led the league with 17.5 sacks while earning First-Team All-Pro honors, while Cincinnati can’t seem to come up with a proper figure. This contract dispute could last into the regular season, and Sports Illustrated‘s Albert Breer thinks June’s mandatory minicamp could be a major milestone for the player and team.
“The Trey Hendrickson thing needs deadlines to create movement,” Breer writes. “And I do think the Bengals’ mandatory minicamp, set for June 10-12, is one to keep an eye on.”
The Bengals normally refuse to trade their star players, but they may make an exception for Trey Hendrickson. With Joe Burrow and Tee Higgins both receiving massive deals and Ja’Marr Chase set to receive a record-breaking extension, Cincinnati might not be able to afford all of their high-priced talent. This could make the 30-year-old Hendrikson the odd man out, and several teams should be willing to give up a high pick for his services.
Bengals, Trey Hendrickson Could Face Deadline In Contract Discussions
Next Teams
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers haven’t made the playoffs since 2017, but that could change if Bryce Young continues to develop. The quarterback looked like the real deal down the stretch and now has a great offensive line and a potential star in top-10 pick Tetairoa McMillan. However, if they want to win a weak NFC South, they must do something about the defense. Derek Brown’s return should solidify the interior, and rookies Nic Scourton and Princely Umanmielen offer long-term upside. With that being said, stealing Trey Hendrickson from the Bengals will give this team a proven elite option at one of the game’s most important positions.
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions have one of the game’s elite pass rushers in Aidan Hutchinson, but he can’t do it all on his own. Detroit plays in arguably the game’s most competitive division and must add defensive talent to offset the loss of defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn. A Trey Hendrickson trade would turn this team’s biggest weakness into its greatest strength, as nobody would be able to block this duo for an entire game.
Los Angeles Chargers
The Los Angeles Chargers re-signed Khalil Mack, and while he’s still a great player, there’s room for another high-priced pass rusher on this roster. Jim Harbaugh’s Chargers are all-in after making the playoffs last year, but they need more talent to overthrow the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC West. Trey Hendrickson can bring more defensive firepower to the team and should fit with Harbaugh’s old-school, hard-nosed approach to the game.
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars are coming off a disastrous season, but they’re not as far away from the playoffs as their 4-13 record would imply. Trevor Lawrence is a solid quarterback, Brian Thomas and Travis Hunter have the potential to be an elite wide receiver duo, but the defense must hold up their end of the bargain. Trey Hendrickson could turn this team’s decent pass rush into a borderline elite one and help Jacksonville compete in a weak division.
Main Photo: Frank Bowen – Imagn Images
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