The NFL franchise tag window is open, but don’t expect any updates on Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson soon.
While the Bengals could tag Hendrickson at a $30.2 million cost, it’s one of the more complicated situations in the NFL right now.
Duke Tobin and the Bengals don’t have any reason to make a decision before the NFL Combine, where they’ll comb the league and see what Hendrickson’s market looks like…and if any team wants to trade for him after a tag.
Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer echoed these sentiments this week:
“Nothing is off the table as of Feb. 16. Cincinnati is not expected to make any decision on Hendrickson’s future before the NFL combine in Indianapolis next week, a source told The Enquirer.”
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It is, in a word, complicated. Hendrickson is 31 years old and coming off a season-ending injury. Those are marks against him in what is his likely final chance at a long-term deal.
If the Bengals choose to tag Hendrickson, another team would have to consider those things on top of coughing up a draft pick to acquire him.
A tag would cause more contract drama at a time they want to avoid any while moving forward with first-rounders Shemar Stewart and Myles Murphy on the edge. Taking that $30 million lump sum and spreading it across a struggling defense is certainly an option.
But if Hendrickson has a poor market, another one-year deal could be good for both sides. If team and player reps get that feeling, perhaps the Bengals use a tag to extend the time they have to work out an agreeable contract extension, just like they did with Tee Higgins last offseason.
Either way, the deadline to tag players is March 3. Rumors about Hendrickson will certainly start flying during the combine.
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This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: Trey Hendrickson’s Bengals future hits critical stretch at combine
