The New England Patriots' draft may have been heavily offensively-skewed, but the defense remained high priority in the offseason, with the grand majority of the team's free agent acquisitions in March coming on head coach, Mike Vrabel's side of the ball.
And whilst the Patriots already reunited former Tennessee Titan edge rusher, Harold Landry, with his former coach, Vrabel, there is still a feeling that the team is lacking a true penetrative, pass rushing force at outside linebacker.
Enter, Trey Hendrickson, who just this morning was reported to be in contract disarray with the Bengals by Adam Schefter - in a quote to ESPN.
"No communication has taken place between my camp and the organization post draft." Hendrickson's statement read, "The offers prior to the draft did not reflect the vision we shared and were promised last offseason if I continued to play at a high level. Coaches are aware of these past conversations. Rather than using collaboration to get us to a point to bring me home to the team, THEY are no longer communicating. I have been eagerly awaiting a resolution of this situation, but that’s hard to do when there is no discussion and an evident lack of interest in reaching mutual goals.”
Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson (91), left, and Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Sam Hubbard (94) celebrate a sack in the second quarter during a Week 16 NFL game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Dec. 26, 2021, at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati.
Trey Hendrickson, Cincinnati Bengals
Kareem Elgazzar/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
As such, we could well see the 2 x All-Pro, who has 35 sacks over the past two seasons - four more than former Defensive Player of the Year, TJ Watt - on his way out of the organization. And the Patriots make about as much sense as any.
A proficient defensive-minded head coach, who always gets the best out of his guys and is very much player-friendly. A team on the ascension who just found its quarterback and left tackle of the future, playing in a division whose only real rival looks to be the Buffalo Bills.
And New England receives a guy still in his prime at 30, but whose age will still likely give them a solid discount with regards to the necessary draft compensation.
New England Patriots get: Trey Hendrickson, 2026 Sixth Round Pick
Cincinnati Bengals get: 2026 Third Round Pick