ClutchPoints
The Cincinnati Bengals are not strangers to high-stakes drama on or off the field. After all, this is the team that’s tried to ride the thin line between championship contention and roster preservation. However, as training camp nears for the 2025 NFL season, the Bengals find themselves in murky waters once again. This time, it’s not just about Joe Burrow’s health or the balance between a loaded offense and an improving defense. The biggest plotline involves a rookie edge rusher who hasn’t even signed his deal. Now, while most rookies come in with fanfare and fresh energy, Cincinnati’s latest first-rounder may be headed out before he ever suits up.
There are a few ways to deal with a pressing issue. Some try to cut the problem into smaller pieces and solve the components one at a time. Others ask for help. And then there are people who simply decide to sleep it off and wait it out. Whatever’s wrong will resolve itself.
The Bengals appear to be adopting that last strategy with their most pressing issue. Though the organization signed wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins to long-term extensions in March, they’ve yet to address the requests of star edge rusher Trey Hendrickson. He wants a new contract or a trade to another team that will give him one. Cincinnati doesn’t appear to be inclined to do either.
It was going to be hard for the Bengals to replace Hendrickson in March. However, that possibility has become downright impossible following free agency and the draft. He created an unprecedented 26 sacks for himself and his teammates a year ago, per ESPN’s metrics. The data for this metric dates to 2017, and no other player had topped 20 sacks created in a season.
Since Hendrickson initially expressed his displeasure about his deal in March, the price of a potential extension has only gone up. Recall that Myles Garrett signed a four-year, $160 million extension to stay with the Browns. That raised the top of the edge rusher market from $34 million per season to $40 million per year. Micah Parsons is expected to up that figure further when he signs his extension with the Cowboys. The best time for the Bengals to get a Hendrickson deal done was March. The next-best time would be now. And then we have their rookie holdout situation.
Here we’ll try to look at the obvious Cincinnati Bengals trade candidate entering the 2025 NFL training camp.
Yes, Hendrickson remains the headline name in the Bengals’ contract drama. That said, there’s another problem brewing that could explode during camp: rookie left defensive end Shemar Stewart. Selected No. 17 overall out of Texas A&M, Stewart is making waves for the wrong reasons. He’s yet to sign his rookie deal, hasn’t practiced with the team, and is refusing to participate in any activities. He wants language regarding injury insurance in his...
