CINCINNATI — When Trey Hendrickson requested a trade from the Cincinnati Bengals earlier this offseason, it was more of a publicity stunt to try to make the public aware that he is far outplaying his contract.
Mission accomplished? Perhaps.
Whether his ploy worked on the voters in Pro Football Networks’ Top 100 list, however, remains unclear. What is certain is that Hendrickson is receiving newfound respect after four consecutive NFL seasons of elite play as an edge rusher.
Bengals Edge Rusher Trey Hendrickson No. 44 on PFN List
The 29-year-old Hendrickson has appeared on the NFL Network’s Top 100 list in each of the last three seasons, but he’s never been higher than 75. Based on that, having Hendrickson at No. 44 on PFN’s list might appear to some as though he’s over-ranked.
Is Trey Hendrickson one of the more underrated pass rushers in the NFL, or is Trey Hendrickson one of the more underrated pass rushers in the NFL?pic.twitter.com/cLIj1lWH4V
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365)
However, he isn’t. Hendrickson has earned every bit of that of that leap. And yet he still might be miffed by it, given that he’s the seventh edge rusher on the list behind Myles Garrett (No. 2), Micah Parsons (No. 4), T.J. Watt (No. 8), Maxx Crosby (No. 9), Nick Bosa (No. 13), and Aidan Hutchinson (No. 22).
Since his breakout season in 2020, Hendrickson ranks third in sacks (53). In 2023 alone, he was tied with Joshua Hines-Allen for second (17.5), while ranking 11th in pressures (79).
Per Pro Football Focus, Hendrickson was third in pressure percentage (11.2), ranking ahead of all 10 edge rushers who have a higher annual average salary than his $21 million.
Hendrickson, who PFN recently ranked as the best free agent signing in Bengals history, has two years left on his contract after agreeing to a one-year extension last July.
The Bengals beefed up their interior pass rush this offseason, signing veteran Sheldon Rankins to a two-year deal in addition to drafting Kris Jenkins in the second round.
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That additional push up the middle could steal some of Hendrickson’s sacks, or it could force quarterbacks into his waiting arms.
Before we find out how that plays out, it will be interesting to see where Hendrickson lands on the NFL Network list later this summer after coming in at No. 73 in 2021, No. 78 in 2022, and No. 75 last year.
His No. 44 ranking by PFN is much closer to his true value, even if his contract isn’t.
