The Cincinnati Bengals have a lot of work to do this offseason, with Tee Higgins, Ja’Marr Chase, and Trey Hendrickson all looking for new deals. Chase and Hendrickson are under contract but seeking bigger paydays, while Higgins was set to become a free agent before the team placed the franchise tag on him.
The Bengals have long been known for their frugal approach, and a former NFL player-turned-analyst didn’t hold back when calling out the team.
Ryan Clark Calls Out Bengals
Hendrickson led the NFL in sacks last season with 17.5 and added 19 tackles for loss and 36 QB hits in 2024. Despite the Bengals’ defense struggling — ranking 25th in points allowed and 28th in PFSN’s Defense+ metric — he was a clear bright spot.
Former NFL safety Ryan Clark, now an ESPN analyst, took to X to criticize the Bengals’ handling of these contract situations.
The Bengals gonna cheap their way through life ain’t they? Sheesh!
— Ryan Clark (@Realrclark25)
The unfortunate reality for Bengals fans is that this criticism could apply to almost any era over the past 20 years. However, Clark’s post appears to focus on how the team is handling its current negotiations—specifically, with Hendrickson.
The star edge rusher is under contract through 2025, but the Bengals have reportedly given his camp permission to seek a trade. ESPN’s Adam Schefter was the first to report the news.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport confirmed this and noted the Bengals are expected to move Hendrickson, with the Indianapolis Colts emerging as a potential landing spot.
“It’s headed for a split, and Trey Hendrickson was in the Bengals’ office today, talking to Bengals brass. They gave him permission to seek a trade, and I do expect him to get moved. There’s gonna be significant interest — there already has been — and I would, of course, keep an eye on all the teams that need one of the best pass rushers in the NFL.
“But among the teams, the Indianapolis Colts — they have Lou Anarumo, his former defensive coordinator last year with Cincinnati, fired and went to the Colts. They need an edge, and this one makes a lot of sense.”
From The Insiders on @NFLNetwork: The #Bengals and Trey Hendrickson are headed for a split. He has permission to seek a trade… pic.twitter.com/X0TInZPb8T
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet)
Hendrickson turned 30 in December, so an argument could be made that the Bengals are trying to cash in on a player nearing the back end of his prime. However, the more likely scenario is that they are unwilling to foot the bill for multiple high-priced players, leading to Clark’s criticism.
