The Cincinnati Bengals and 2024 NFL sack leader Trey Hendrickson have had a contract saga dating back to this time last year.
It has included the team allowing Hendrickson to seek a trade but never solidifying a deal with another team. Team ownership member Katie Blackburn also made comments that disappointed Hendrickson not that long ago about the pass rusher needing to “be happy” at a certain rate.
Now, as we draw close to the NFL Draft director of player personnel — Duke Tobin — and head coach — Zac Taylor — spoke with the media and offered individual insights to the situation:
“There’s no real new information on Trey. I’m glad he’s a part of our team. He’s been a great addition,” said Tobin.” “He has been incredibly productive. We’re glad he’s here. I don’t have any new information on what the future holds for him. He is a guy I have a ton of respect for and regard for and a ton of value for.”
Taylor offered up a similar response:
“I think the business side is always complicated. It is never clear-cut. Different players at different times will go through this stuff,” Taylor said. “I appreciate Trey and what he means to this football team.”
It looks like this stalemate will go into the draft, which may be the most likely time we see the team actually move the veteran player, even though that is still an incredibly small percentage.
More likely, we see this turn into a hold-out/hold-in situation where Hendrickson doesn’t put his body on the line for practice. The question becomes whether this stretches into Hendrickson missing games or becomes a trade deadline issue as well.