The Bengals’ options to deal with the Trey Hendrickson situation simply aren’t pretty, given the situation.
And it looks like at least one league beat writer says those options have gotten even narrower
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler wrote earlier today that “The sense at the end of the week is that Trey Hendrickson…will probably not be franchise-tagged” and that “most around the league would be surprised if the Bengals tag Hendrickson.”
If this is true, then it likely rules out any sort of “tag and trade” scenario and means that Cincinnati is on track to part ways with their start pass rusher without receiving any sort of major compensation. Although they could end up receiving a third-round compensatory pick depending on where he signs and how he performs, it would be a disappointing return for a player who most around the league view as one of the best free agents on the market.
Tag and trade efforts are always complicated. It involves a great deal of precise timing and negotiations between teams, players and organizations looking to bring someone in via the trade itself. And there’s a risk that if the player is tagged that no trade will emerge. If that were to happen here the Bengals would be on the hook for his $30.2 million dollar salary and Hendrickson would be stuck on a team that it’s becoming more and more apparent that he wants no part of.
While such a complex masterclass trade was a nice idea, the fact that the team couldn’t pull it off comes as not much of a surprise for anyone who has been a fan of the team for more than a few months.
And if the Bengals ultimately end up letting Hendrickson walk, it will be up to the duo of Myles Murphy and Shemar Stewart to rush from the edges and fill the former pro-bowler’s cleats. And who knows, maybe they will have some help in that department in the personage of a player by the name of Rueben Bain, Jr. if things break right at the upcoming NFL Draft.
