As expected, star pass rusher Trey Hendrickson won’t return to the Cincinnati Bengals. This seemed like a given after contract talks got ugly last offseason.
The 31-year-old is one of the prime headhunters in the game, and there’s always a strong market for pass rushers. That said, it looks like Hendrickson is having a tough time finding the type of deal his camp is currently looking for.
Considering that, ESPN insider Adam Schefter believes it might be a while before he puts pen to paper:
“He’s talking to a bunch of teams but nobody has met his price just yet,” Schefter said on ESPN’s “Get Up.” “And he’s a very strong minded, prideful person. He wants to get his price and until he feels like he does, he’s not willing to compromise on that.”
Hendrickson amassed 35 sacks in two consecutive seasons and was a finalist for Defensive Player of the Year. However, he’s 31 and missed 10 games last season.
He had just 4.0 sacks, and while that was obviously due to limited playing time and his team’s context, it’s still worrisome. That’s not to say that he can’t still be a difference-maker, but teams might be understandably adamant to give him a big-money deal or a long-term contract full of guarantees.
With the Dallas Cowboys acquiring Rashan Gary and the Seattle Seahawks losing Boye Mafe, Hendrickson might turn to the New England Patriots or Seahawks for a new team and a chance to win a Super Bowl, provided he’s willing to lower his financial aspirations.
As for teams with enough money to give him the type of contract he’s looking for, it’s hard to imagine another Super Bowl contender being willing to meet his asking price. Whatever the case, it doesn’t seem like Hendrickson will be joining anothe team any time soon.
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