NFL Insider Reveals Bengals’ Asking Worth for Sack Chief Trey Hendrickson After Giving Him Permission To Search Commerce
The Cincinnati Bengals had been the foremost disappointment of 2024, ending 9-8 and lacking the playoffs. Whereas their offense was spectacular, with Joe Burrow turning into the one third participant in league historical past to throw 40+ touchdowns for a non-playoff group, the Bengals’ protection left a lot to be desired.
The one vibrant spot for Cincinnati was defensive finish Trey Hendrickson, who completed second in Defensive Participant of the Yr voting. However as shocking as it might sound, the Bengals aren’t prepared to pay him what he needs and have granted him permission to hunt a commerce this offseason.
Cincinnati Bengals Asking Worth for Trey Hendrickson
The Bengals’ protection was downright terrible final 12 months, ending twenty eighth in PFSN’s Protection+ metric in 2024. They completed 3-8 in one-score video games and 2-7 in opposition to playoff groups. Nonetheless, Hendrickson had the perfect season of his profession and posted 17.5 sacks, 46 complete tackles, 19 tackles for loss, and 36 QB hits.
Hendrickson arrived in Cincinnati in 2021 after 4 years in New Orleans, signing a four-year, $60 million free agent contract. He signed a one-year, $21 million extension in 2023, preserving him underneath contract by means of 2025.
He deservedly wished a brand new contract, provided that the Las Vegas Raiders edge rusher Maxx Crosby, who had 10 fewer sacks than Hendrickson in 2024, simply signed a three-year, $106.5 million contract extension. Nonetheless, the Bengals aren’t prepared to pay the 30-year-old the same amount of cash and have granted him permission to hunt a commerce.
Cincinnati just lately positioned the franchise tag on Tee Higgins and is taking a look at a $40 million-a-year contract for Ja’Marr Chase, so looking for a commerce for Hendrickson is sensible to free some cap house. However what are they asking in return for the first-team All-Professional edge rusher?
“In all probability a conservative estimate, a good estimate, is that if the Bengals can get a excessive 3 (third-round choose), they’d love a low 2, however on the finish of the day, if they’re going to commerce Hendrickson, it’s most likely going to be within the neighborhood of a excessive 3,” Jonathan Jones of CBS information stated
In accordance with @jjones9, the possible compensation that the Bengals need to obtain for DE Trey Hendrickson is a excessive third spherical choose.
(through @CBSSports) pic.twitter.com/72ZcRc4g8W
— Chicago Bears Updates (@chbearsupdates) March 7, 2025
The Bengals can even save $16 million in cap house, which they’ll use to increase Higgins and Chase’s contracts. It could actually additionally permit them to strengthen their protection by means of free company, whereas a excessive third-round choose within the 2025 NFL Draft is ample for them to land an elite defender.
Cincinnati is predicted to make use of its general No.17 choose on Marshall edge rusher Mike Inexperienced within the PFSN’s newest three-round mock draft by Reese Decker whereas including security Xavier Watts within the second spherical, and whereas it’ll be laborious to discover a alternative for Hendrickson, each these prospects can strengthen their derailed protection immediately.
Decker wrote, “The Bengals have to revamp their total defensive unit, and Xavier Watts, who’s aware of new defensive coordinator Al Golden, suits the invoice completely.
“A CFSN All-American, Watts is a 6’0″, 203-pound security identified for creating turnovers. He led the nation in interceptions in 2023 and adopted up with six interceptions and a pressured fumble in 2024. A pure playmaker, Watts may also help restore Cincinnati’s defensive pleasure.”
“Mike Inexperienced is a dynamic move rusher who dominated on the Senior Bowl. He’s fast off the ball, performs with wonderful contact energy and leverage, and has a powerful shock and shed transfer.
“At Marshall, Inexperienced was a pressure, and he may add important worth to a defensive position that already options the league’s sack chief in 2024. Whereas some concern has arisen over his arm size (32 1/4 inches on the Senior Bowl), Inexperienced’s movie speaks for itself. If the character checks out, he’s a no brainer choose.”
