Cincinnati Bengals edge rusher Trey Hendrickson was the subject of NFL trade rumors last offseason after the two sides couldn’t agree to terms on a long-term deal. Now just weeks shy of reaching NFL free agency, it appears the Bengals could prevent that and create more offseason drama with their top defensive player.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Network agreed with the belief of reporter Mike Garafolo, that the Bengals using the franchise tag on Hendrickson this offseason is very much in play. While a long-term deal is unlikely, the Bengals don’t want to lose the All-Pro edge rusher for nothing.
“I’m not saying they are definitely going to franchise tag him. But when he got that new deal, there was nothing that prohibited the Bengals from doing a franchise tag with Trey Hendrickson…The Bengals hate to let really good players leave the building.”
Ian Rapoport on if the Cincinnati Bengals may franchise tag Trey Hendrickson
Rapoport noted that the cost of franchise tagging Hendrickson would be approximately $34 million, fully guaranteed under a one-year deal. It would be above the $29 million figure he earned this past season but still fall under the numbers he targeted in contract extension talks last summer.
Unfortunately for Hendrickson, he’s not exactly coming off a career-best season. He played in just seven games last year, finishing with 12 pressures, 8 QB hits, and 4 sacks. It came after consecutive seasons with 17.5 sacks, where he racked up 61 QB hits and 35 tackles for loss over a two-year span when fully healthy.
Now 31 years old, Hendrickson has already been through frustrating contract talks with the Bengals organization. He publicly voiced his frustration with what he viewed as low-ball offers from the franchise, with guaranteed money proving to be a major sticking point in contract talks.
Cincinnati did shop Hendrickson around the league last offseason, reportedly seeking a first-round pick. It’s an asking price no club was willing to meet, especially since they would then have to sign the All-Pro pass rusher to a multi-year extension in his 30s that made him one of the highest-paid edge rushers in football.
It’s hard to imagine that the Bengals’ asking price has come down since then, even with Hendrickson being a year older and just two months removed from core muscle surgery. Given all that and Cincinnati’s history with both trade and contract negotiations, this very much feels like a saga that could result in the franchise tag being used and then this story lasting well into the summer.
