Ahh, the peace and quiet of the Cincinnati Bengals offseason has been wonderful.
Quietest January and February for the Bengals in a long time, after all the contract drama surrounding Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Trey Hendrickson and off-the-field issues with Joe Mixon and Jermaine Burton to start recent calendar years. For once, there appears to be no concerns about a star player holding out in preseason practices.
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And yet the issue of Hendrickson’s future is looming, ready to create unnecessary drama at any moment.
It seems there may be differing opinions amid Bengals decision makers about whether to bring back high-maintenance Hendrickson, the aging Pro Bowl edge rusher coming off playing just seven games before he opted to have season-ending surgery.
The future of defensive end Trey Hendrickson (left) is among the things on the front burner for director of player personnel Duke Tobin (right) and the front office this offseason.
This should be a layup for the Bengals. Move on.
Let Hendrickson walk as a free agent or slap the franchise tag on him solely with the intention of trading him this offseason. The latter could allow the Bengals to get a higher draft pick. The window to place the franchise tag on players begins Tuesday, Feb. 17.
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But it’s exhausting watching the Bengals continue to try to play hard ball over what draft pick they can get in exchange for Hendrickson, who came to Cincinnati in 2021 and is regarded as the best free-agent signing in club history. The Bengals went through that exercise last offseason after Hendrickson requested a trade for the second time in his Bengals tenure, before settling on restructuring the final year of his contract.
Don’t overcomplicate it. Spend the $30 million freed up by moving on from Hendrickson to help fix the defense. The defensive free-agent talent pool is strong this offseason. Get multiple veteran starters with that money. Get guys who want to be part of the solution and fit coach Zac Taylor’s team-first culture.
If the Bengals slap the franchise tag on Hendrickson and bring him back, however, they’ll run the risk of another run-it-back decision backfiring on them. Hendrickson, 31, likely won’t be happy playing another season without a multi-year contract.
The Bengals don’t need more Trey drama, not after missing the playoffs the last three seasons. They need guys who can tackle. They need more than one guy who can rush the quarterback. They need guys who can cover the tight end. And they need guys who can stop the run. Hendrickson is good at sacking the quarterback, but he’s one-dimensional − and his age and health are a major concern after he suffered a hip injury last season.
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Hendrickson wore out his welcome in Cincinnati last May, when he showed up for minicamp in street clothes. He then held court with reporters, airing his frustration about the lack of a contract extension and throwing Taylor under the bus over a text message from the coach informing the player that he’d be fined for not showing up to minicamp. Hendrickson held out of training camp for a week before the contract dispute was settled.
Hendrickson was named a team captain last season, but only by default. He’s not team captain material, evidenced by his constant contract whining. He’s not known as a locker-room leader, but he was one of few veterans left on the defense entering last season.
Bengals drama is great for my business. But for the sake of the fans, no more of this. They are owed a drama-free offseason − and their team only making noise in free agency.
Contact columnist Jason Williams at jwilliams@enquirer.com
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Trey Hendrickson decision may ruin Bengals’ drama-free NFL offseason