Cincy Jungle
Hendrickson may not get traded, but he wants out. Should that change the Bengals focus ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft?
Trey Hendrickson wants a new deal, and without one, he wants out of Cincinnati.
While the Bengals don’t have an intent to trade the star, keeping the band together while not paying long-term deals to stars may not be a recipe for success as the 2024 NFL Draft inches closer.
Cincinnati has the No. 18 pick in the first round, and defensive end really didn’t seem like a position group they would target here, especially after spending a first-round pick on Myles Murphy last year.
Could Hendrickson’s request for a trade change that with multiple big-name talents likely on the board when Cincinnati is on the clock?
At ESPN, the final NFL Mock Draft projection by Field Yates has the Bengals taking who many believe is the second-best pass-rusher this year: Florida State defensive end Jared Verse.
On the heels of the news that Trey Hendrickson has requested a trade, Verse becomes that much more attractive of an option for the Bengals. He and 2023 first-round pick Myles Murphy would form the pass-rush foundation for the future, and Verse would be thrust into an immediate role if any Hendrickson deal is consummated. Verse has a great blend of in-line power and length. Cincinnati allowed 6.0 yards per play last season, highest in the NFL, so watch that side of the ball.
Verse spent two seasons with the Seminoles after transferring in after two seasons at Albany. In 2022, the 6-foot-4, 254-pounder was a First-Team All-American after recording 48 tackles, 17 tackles for loss with nine sacks.
This past season, Verse racked up 41 total tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, and nine sacks while earning Second-Team All-American honors.
The consensus big board actually has Verse ranked 16th overall, ahead of popular Bengals targets like Taliese Fuaga, JC Latham, Brian Thomas Jr., Amarius Mims, and Jer’Zhan Newton.
So, at least from that perspective, taking Verse at 18 would seemingly be nice value.
Hendrickson has totaled almost 40 sacks in the last three seasons, so replacing him will be easier said than done. Regardless, he’s 29 years old and will be 30 soon. Planning on replacing him, assuming they don’t provide a long-term, could be wise.
On the other side of the line is Sam Hubbard, who is under contract until 2025, so the Bengals will have one of their two defensive ends locked in for the next few seasons, though Hubbard is more of a run defender who doesn’t offer the kind of pass-rushing prowess Verse would.
As for the Bengals, if they do opt to look towards the defensive end in the first round instead of wide receiver, interior defensive line, or offensive line, Verse and UCLA’s Laiatu Latu are the names to keep an eye on.
While the first round should be used elsewhere, keeping an eye on where the Bengals target on Day...
