The Cincinnati Bengals are coming off a below-average season in which they started slow but managed to fight their way back into playoff contention—ultimately falling short in a highly competitive AFC. This season, the Bengals' defense is looking to step up and support quarterback Joe Burrow and the offense. However, things aren’t exactly going according to plan.
So far, two of Cincinnati’s defensive players have been causing some concern—one a rookie who hasn’t played a single snap, the other a veteran who appears to be on his way out of Cincinnati. Rookie Shemar Stewart is currently holding out due to a contract dispute.
“Stewart told reporters that he ‘decided not to sign those papers’ and preferred to be an active participant instead of a passive one,” Ben Baby wrote.
Meanwhile, veteran Trey Hendrickson is seeking a contract extension with more money, but talks with the team have stalled. It appears the Bengals have not made any effort to address his concerns.
“No communication has taken place between my camp and the organization post draft," Hendrickson told ESPN. "The offers prior to the draft did not reflect the vision we shared and were promised last offseason if I continued to play at a high level.”
While the Bengals don’t seem interested in giving him a new deal, one team could be a perfect fit—and together, they could form one of the most dangerous defensive duos in the league.
“In a recent article by CBS Sports exploring the best potential fits for Hendrickson, the Lions were listed first. There are salary cap hurdles that the Lions would have to navigate in order to land Hendrickson and re-sign him, but they have the cap space in 2025 to make the move,” Christian Booher wrote.
Pairing Aidan Hutchinson and Hendrickson on opposite ends of the defensive line would be a nightmare for opposing offenses. Hutchinson, one of the best young defenders in the game, is coming off an injury—so Hendrickson could help anchor the line while Hutchinson works his way back to full strength.