Seeing the Bengals lock down two of their explosive receiver duo, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, to a whopping $276M contract extensions, it’s absolutely normal for us to wonder if they are done in free agency. You’d think they might be tightening their purse strings, leaving NFL sack leader Trey Hendrickson hanging without a deal, right? Well, you might be kidding yourself, then. That’s because the Bengals aren’t sleeping on Hendrickson just yet. The latest reports coming out of the Jungle suggest the Bengals are still very much in securing Hendrickson’s long-term future.

On the latest episode of Pat McAfee’s show, NFL insider Ian Rapoport gave some enlightening details on the Bengals’ stance on Hendrickson’s extension. He believes the Bengals “do not like letting good players leave the building, even if it’s for like a huge traffic. They don’t like it. They like to develop, draft, develop, and sign their own guys. And I think they get annoyed that people think that they don’t sign their guys. So Hendrickson is awesome. He deserves a lot of money. I think his next contract is going to be above 30.”

$30M per year after you have just given Chase $40.25M per year, Higgins $28.75M per year, and you are also giving Burrow $55M per year? Surely, the narrative of the Bengals operating cheaply in the market needs to be dropped. They are also spending an average of $125M per year just on three of their offensive weapons. So, why not get it all done and prove everyone wrong? To be honest, it’s not even like Hendrickson doesn’t deserve his extension. 

Wearing the NFL sack leader crown for back-to-back seasons is no easy feat. And still getting paid peanuts doesn’t justify his productions. Technically, Hendrickson is still under contract for another year, making him at least $16M. So, there’s a possibility he could sit out the training camp and eat up fines. Surely, the Bengals wouldn’t want that to happen.

I mean, after what they gave their offense, they should equally reward their defense, shouldn’t they? Otherwise, teams like the Indianapolis Colts are already hovering above Trey’s signature. Yep, it might not be easy. Still, getting Hendrickson would be a no-brainer for any team right now.

Colts’ to make an audacious bid to sign Trey Hendrickson

You know former Bengals DC Lou Anarumo, with whom Hendrickson spent 4 seasons in the Jungle? Well, he is now working in Indy as a part of Shane Steichen’s coaching staff. So, any rumor linking Hendrickson to a possible move to the Colts will have its weight. Today, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport said, “There’s interest,” when asked if the Colts can target Hendrickson for a possible reunion with Anarumo. I mean, with Anarumo as his DC, Hendrickson made it to four straight Pro Bowls. And he even got his first-team All-Pro to make it more special.

However, if the Colts really want to make any deal right now, they probably have to give up a lot. Like ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler said, “There is trade interest from other teams trying to make this work, but it would take a really hefty trade package.” Possible first-round picks, second-round, and even more, who knows? But considering the Colts are ready to forfeit a lot, Hendrickson would come in and instantly elevate their defense to the moon.

So, only time will tell how this Trey Hendrickson saga will end. Either the Bengals will be like, ‘Yeah, we got our offensive firepower locked in. Why not add another heated missile to it through our defense.’ Or their leniency in wrapping up Hendrickson’s contract will probably come back to haunt them once he is long gone.