Trey Hendrickson’s Bengals Future Gets Major Update With Trade Change

The Cincinnati Bengals have signed their big-play wide receivers, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, to long term extensions at record numbers. They are both happy as they are getting their money and do not have to worry about going back to the negotiating table for a while.

Now, Mike Brown and Katie Blackburn, chief negotiators for the Bengals, have to deal with edge rusher Trey Hendrickson. They had granted Hendrickson the right to seek a trade and see if he can make a better deal with another team.

The Bengals have decided they will not trade Hendrickson, but they would rather negotiate an extension with him. Hendrickson, who is entering into the final year of his contact, would like to get a new deal done before the start of training camp. They are going to have to keep in mind that the Houston Texans signed Danielle Hunter to a one-year $36.5 million extension for 2026. That could be the jumping off point for Hendrickson and his representatives. Fox Sports insider Jordan Schultz said the Bengals are ready to negotiate with Hendrickson and commit to him long term.

“The organization and ownership are fully prepared to move forward and attempt to negotiate a deal with him,” Schultz said. “I don’t believe they want to trade him at all. And I would actually say, after talking to multiple people involved, that they reached the conclusion that a trade is really off the table.”

Hendrickson, who played collegiately at Florida Atlantic University, arrived in Cincinnati in 2021. Since then he has made four Pro Bowls and had back-to-back 17.5 sack seasons. If the Bengals traded Hendrickson, or lost him next season in free agency, it would create a big hole in the Cincinnati defense. Related: Bengals BREAKING with Stunning Signings of Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins

It has been reported by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport that Hendrickson could be seeking a deal with annual average value of over $30 million a year. “I know they would like to keep him in the building,” Rapoport said. “They would like to pay him, and I think they would like people to stop saying, ‘Why don’t the Bengals pay their guys?'”

Joe Burrow under less pressure to win Super Bowl than Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen, says analyst

Following the 2021-22 season, fans of the Cincinnati Bengals were convinced; Joe Burrow is capable of doing everything necessary to win in the biggest games.

Now, after an amazing season in which he had to constantly overcome a weak defense, Burrow is getting recognized by just about everyone for his heroic performances.

So despite never winning the big one, Burrow doesn’t have as much pressure on him to win his first championship championship as some other elite QBs, according CBS’ Jeff Kerr.

The Buffalo Bills’ Josh Allen, Baltimore Ravens’ Lamar Jackson, The Dallas Cowboys’ Dak Prescott, and the Detroit Lions’ Jared Goff still have more to prove, according to Kerr.

Here’s an excerpt from his article:

Burrow has completed 69.2% of his passes and thrown 58 touchdowns to just 15 interceptions over the past two seasons. He’s third in the league in completion rate, fourth in touchdown passes, fifth in touchdown rate (5.7%), and fourth in passer rating (102.2).

Meanwhile, the writer pointed out, “The 2024 Bengals allowed the most points per game in losses in NFL history (27.8), and had six losses with 25+ points last season.”

But that didn’t stop Burrow from taking the offense to new heights. Kerr pointed out that Burrow was only the third QB in history with over 40+ passing touchdowns to miss the playoffs.

So what do you think?