Bengals Edge Trey Hendrickson told us all offseason that he didn't plan to play on the existing final year of his contract, and he appears to be making good on that promise. Hendrickson posted Tuesday morning that he's back home in Florida rather than in Ohio getting set to report for the start of training camp. Pelissero also reports that first-round Edge Shemar Stewart is in Texas -- rather than Ohio -- thanks to the continued dispute over his rookie contract.
Pelissero on Hendrickson: "He felt like a year ago there was a promise from the Bengals that they would address his contract if he delivered once again. He certainly did that in a big way. The Bengals have offered him a new deal. My understanding, though, is ... they are not there in terms of the guaranteed money. The Bengals are on the very, very short list of NFL teams that still, in general, only guarantee the [signing] bonus. They have bent that rule in recent years for the likes of Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase to get those deals done. To this point, they have not been willing to do the same with Trey Hendrickson."
Pelissero on Stewart: "From the player's perspective and his agent Zach Hiller's perspective, they're saying, 'We just want the same language you've given everyone else' -- Amarius Mims, last year's first-round draft pick; Joe Burrow when he was drafted. That's the divide that you have right now with Shemar Stewart and the Bengals."
The Hendrickson contract unrest dates back to at least last offseason, when he reportedly tried to seek a trade. Hendrickson has delivered 17.5 sacks for two straight seasons, leading the league in that category last year.
His absence for any portion of the regular season would deal a serious blow to an already-limited defense that's also acclimating a new coordinator.
Stewart, I'm skeptical of even if they figure out this contract impasse. He solidified his first-round draft profile with a predictably electric Combine workout, but Stewart's college production never reflected that elite athleticism.
I'm passing on Stewart across formats.
This situation presents two clear winners: Myles Murphy and Joseph Ossai.
Murphy has disappointed through two NFL seasons, with just three total sacks after arriving as a late first-round pick. Ossai enjoyed a semi-breakout late last season -- his fourth in the league -- but then got only a modest, one-year deal with the Bengals despite unrestricted free agency.
That sure looks like a "prove-it" contract for his age-25 season.
Hendrickson would/will obviously lead the group whenever he's back with the team. And there would be room for Stewart to win a starting post if he impressed through camp and preseason.
But Ossai and Murphy should lead the first-team reps as long as those guys are out.
I like the sleeper status on Ossai even with everyone available, so this whole situation only makes him more attractive as a late-round target.
Murphy will need to show me more before I'm interested.
I'm not adjusting Hendrickson's spot in the IDP rankings just yet. He's been around long enough to know how to keep himself in shape.
Stewart isn't likely to matter for your 2025 redraft league even if he reports this week.
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