The Cincinnati Bengals have had a busy offseason, marked by re-signing key players to massive contracts. After securing Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase with deals worth over $100 million, the final piece to sign is standout pass rusher Trey Hendrickson.
At first, it seemed likely the Bengals would trade Hendrickson, but the situation has shifted. The team now appears more open to re-signing him, as a trade is no longer being considered, according to Jordan Schultz.
While it made sense to consider trading Hendrickson due to the high salaries of their star players, the Bengals seem to have found a way to make room for another top player. However, this raises the question of how they will balance the rest of the roster, as locking up several key stars makes it harder to build a well-rounded team.
The Bengals have 53 players on the roster for a reason, and the players they have invested in are all in crucial positions. Quarterback Joe Burrow is earning $55 million per year, a fair amount given his status as one of the top quarterbacks in the league. Receivers Higgins and Chase are among the best in the league, catching passes from Burrow.
Hendrickson, as an edge rusher, plays one of the most important positions in football, second only to quarterback, making him just as valuable to the team as Burrow. This makes him deserving of a big contract.
Reports suggest both sides have mutual interest, which marks a shift from initial reports indicating the possibility of a trade. Usually, trade discussions lead to an eventual deal, but this situation appears to be different.
By keeping their top players, and assuming they stay healthy and add solid draft picks, the Bengals have the potential to compete not just for the AFC North title but for a Super Bowl berth. The team reached the big game in 2022 and will aim to reassemble the pieces around their core of high-paid stars to make another run.
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