Don’t count on the Cincinnati Bengals losing Trey Hendrickson this offseason.
We’ve cautioned that the Bengals could easily use the franchise tag on Hendrickson to keep him in Cincinnati for at least one more year.
Now, ahead of the Super Bowl, NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo has reported that it is indeed on the table for the Bengals.
“Our understanding is that the Bengals are still considering using the franchise tag,” Garafolo said. “Now, could it be a tag-and-trade possibility? Perhaps. Sounds like all options are on the table for Hendrickson right now, but it is not a forgone conclusion that his time in Cincinnati is over.”
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Multiple prior reports have effectively said the bridge is burnt between Hendrickson and the Bengals.
But when the two parties agreed to the contract redo before last season, it reportedly didn’t include a no-tag clause. That gives the Bengals some leverage.
Hendrickson, now 31 and coming off an injury, should have an interesting market, if he even makes it to free agency. But a lump sum on a one-year tag could prove beneficial to both sides.
The Bengals would be foolish to not consider retaining an All-Pro defender right now. First-round products Shemar Stewart and Myles Murphy have yet to live up to that draft billing and Joseph Ossai is also headed to free agency.
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This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: Trey Hendrickson’s future with Bengals conversation just changed again
Reporting by Chris Roling, Bengals Wire / Bengals Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
