Why the Jaguars should or shouldn't trade for DE Trey Hendrickson
• Trey Hendrickson wants a new deal from the Bengals
• If he doesn't get it, he wants to be traded
• Should the Jaguars give Cincy a phone call?
The Jacksonville Jaguars need to bolster their pass rush. They could very well add someone in the 2024 NFL Draft, but there's another avenue they could explore to round out their rotation. Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson wants a new deal. If he doesn't get it, he wants to be traded.
Hendrickson requested a trade Wednesday, per his agent, Harold Lewis, and was later confirmed by different outlets. He's coming off a 17.5-sack season and has totaled 39.5 during his three-year stint in Cincy. The Florida Atlantic product doesn't want to be the highest-paid pass rusher but believes he's deserving of a raise after going above and beyond. His contract originally ran through 2024 but he signed a one-year extension worth $21 million last July.
The issue with Hendrickson's request is that players cannot get a new deal until 12 months from the date they signed an extension have passed, according to the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
Section 8(a)(i) Renegotiations and Extensions: of the CBA. Trey can’t get a new contract until 12 months from the date he signed an extension.
— Jesse James (@AgentJesseJames) April 24, 2024
What are we doing here??? https://t.co/6pAGgvp9Y5
Maybe Hendrickson gets a verbal agreement and waits until July to get a new deal, but the Bengals don't seem to be inclined to negotiate this year. That said, they'll be open to revisiting his contract in 2025. That may not be the resolution he wants but the one he'll get in Cincy. This begs the question, should Jacksonville give the Bengals a call?
The Bengals aren't planning to trade Trey Hendrickson
Let's get it out of the way. The Cincinnati Bengals aren't budging. They won't trade Trey Hendrickson, or at least, that's their stance right now. Then again, they could change their mind if they see their relationship deteriorate and someone makes an offer they can't refuse.
Keep in mind that Hendrickson isn't the only Bengal who's requested a trade. Tee Higgins also wants to bolt after getting the franchise tag early in the offseason. Cincinnati expects him to stay, but there may be clubs out there who may be willing to meet their contract demands. All it takes is a call, and negotiations can quickly ramp up.