Another day and another item to add to the news cycle that is the ongoing saga between the Cincinnati Bengals and defensive end Trey Hendrickson. Following weekend reports that the Bengals were entertaining trade offers for the NFL’s reigning sack leader, there was a Monday Night Football update from Laura Rutledge that the two sides were close on a deal.
The sticking point, according to Rutledge, was the guaranteed money in the contract extension. That’s not really news, since that’s been known for more than a month. The Bengals and Hendrickson seem to have an agreement in place regarding total money and contract length, but the Brown family – shocker – doesn’t want to guarantee more than the first year.
So, a trade is still very much on the table and, according to Hondo Carpenter of Sports Illustrated, the Las Vegas Raiders might be first in line to acquire Hendrickson’s services.
“In a conversation with an NFL executive on Tuesday, I was informed, “I have no doubt the Raiders are the frontrunners,” Carpenter writes. “Tom Brady and Mark Davis want to win now, and John (Spytek) has no fear when it comes to making bold moves. The kid (Hendrickson is 30), that move is the mentality of Pete Carroll; he’s not afraid of anything that could improve the team.”
The Raiders can want to win now all they like, but I want a pony.
What will the Bengals want in return for Trey Hendrickson?
Pairing Hendrickson with another $35 million defensive end in Maxx Crosby would be a heck of an improvement for a defense that ranked No. 15 in the NFL in 2024.
So, would the Raiders have to give up the farm? Surely, they wouldn’t part with a first-round pick, would they? It was previously reported that the Bengals turned up their noses at a second-round pick just a few months ago.
Carpenter continues:
“When I inquired about the potential cost of acquiring Hendrickson, the executive said, “From what I hear, the Bengals are seeking either multiple picks or a combination of a pick and a player. They aren’t particularly focused on one side of the ball, but their offense is exceptional, while their defense is (excrement). I would speculate that a player and a third-round pick would be sufficient to land him.”
Rutledge’s Hendrickson report could be a nothing-burger
While Rutledge’s report caused some minor media ripples, it didn’t offer much new information. Since Hendrickson and the team have been bickering over guarantees for months, her report didn’t indicate any new movement. So, a trade could be more likely than the Bengals extending the guy with 35 sacks over the past two years, right?
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero this week said don’t bet on that either.
“It is a complicated situation,” Pelissero said on Monday. “We’ll see if it advances, but I can tell you there are several teams over the past several days that have checked in with the Bengals. There have been talks. It’s not anywhere close to a deal actually getting done.”
It’s not you; it’s me. That’s the overall feeling of dealing with the Brown family. It’s not you, Trey. Not only have numerous players found that negotiating with the Bengals is an exercise in futility, but it sounds like NFL teams feel the same.
The Bengals aren’t happy unless they are driving a hard bargain and the Raiders might find that out sooner rather than later.
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