Will Bengals drafting a DE affect Trey Hendrickson’s future?
A Rookie With Expectations and a Veteran With Questions
CINCINNATI – The Cincinnati Bengals didn’t just draft Shemar Stewart to strengthen their defensive line. In a way, they may have also triggered the next chapter in the ongoing contract standoff with Trey Hendrickson.
Right after the team made its first-round selection, coach Zac Taylor tried to make something clear. Stewart wasn’t drafted because of anyone else’s situation. “This is not a story about anybody else,” Taylor said. But it’s hard to ignore the overlap.
The spotlight doesn’t move in isolation. It swings, it lingers, and when a franchise edge rusher like Hendrickson is in the middle of a contract dispute, people are going to connect dots — whether it’s fair or not.
As things stand, Hendrickson remains one of the most disruptive defenders in franchise history. Still under contract for another season, he’s made it known that he’d like a bump — and perhaps a bit of long-term certainty. Stewart’s arrival doesn’t erase Hendrickson’s impact, but it does reshape the timing of decisions the front office might face.
Learning From One of the League’s Best
From the outside, Stewart appears fully aware of the opportunity — not just to join an NFL team, but to learn from someone at the top of the game.
“I’m going to come in there and work my tail off,” Stewart told local reporters after being drafted 17th overall. “Me and Trey Hendrickson — he’s going to become my best buddy because I’m going to be under his tail.”
That’s not a bad approach. Hendrickson led the entire league in sacks last season with 17.5. He doesn’t just rack up stats — he sets standards. And in a defensive unit that, frankly, didn’t generate much heat outside of Hendrickson, that leadership matters. The next-highest sack total in Cincinnati? Joseph Ossai, with five.
So the pressure’s real — not just on Hendrickson, but on Stewart to bring more to the pass rush than his college numbers might suggest. At Texas A&M, he finished with only 4.5 sacks over three years. That’s raised eyebrows. So has the fact that his selection came ahead of other edge prospects with more production on paper.
Power, Technique, and the Gaps in Between
Stewart isn’t shying away from the critiques. He said he’s working on balance, discipline through contact, and building off his burst. When asked about technique, he pointed to Hendrickson’s ability to win with raw power — not finesse.
“You had the leading sack rusher this year, and all he did was power,” Stewart said. “It translates pretty seamlessly as long as I get the technique down.”
There’s value in that kind of clarity — knowing who to learn from and what needs sharpening. If Cincinnati’s going to build around a young core, players like Stewart will have to absorb quickly. That brings us back to Hendrickson. Keeping a mentor like him happy and motivated could be just as vital as drafting a promising rookie.
Defensive tackle McKinnley Jackson, a former college teammate of Stewart, knows what it means to watch Hendrickson closely. “Trey’s a tough nail,” Jackson said. “He’s going to hold you accountable. And I love it. I love the juice he brings to this team.”
The Money Math Isn’t Easy
All that said, the money has to make sense. And so far, there’s been no move on Hendrickson’s deal — no trade, no extension. The market might’ve cooled after the draft, and options for teams seeking edge talent are limited. As the Bengals weigh long-term strategy, contract shifts might come at the cost of familiar faces.
Take Germaine Pratt, for example. Cutting him could clear $5.3 million, opening up room to reward Hendrickson. It’s a similar story with Cordell Volson, who may be replaced by rookie Dylan Fairchild. These aren’t easy decisions, but the cap isn’t infinite.
So here the Bengals are — a loaded draft class in hand, a few big names with looming contract questions, and a defensive line in the middle of transformation.
“We felt like it got to a point where [Stewart] was probably mispriced relative to the draft,” said general manager Andrew Berry.
Maybe Stewart is a steal. Maybe he’s a project. But what’s certain is that the Bengals want both the now and the next — and right now, that means balancing promise with experience.
