The Cincinnati Bengals were determined to improve their pass rush in 2021 after sitting last in the league in sacks a year ago. They decided against re-signing Carl Lawson, who went to the Jets, and instead went with Saints pass rusher Trey Hendrickson.
The decision was met with criticism but everyone who slammed the move is eating their words, and Bengals fans who did so are happy to do it. Hendrickson broke the Bengals’ all-time sack record, notching his 14th of the season as the stripes battled the Ravens on Sunday afternoon.
Another reason the Bengals are excited about Trey Hendrickson (who just set the Bengals sack record) is that he’s doing this while he’s only 27 and on the first year of his contract.
— Charlie Goldsmith (@CharlieG__) December 26, 2021
He only has two years as an NFL starter under his belt. He has a lot of years left in the tank.
Not only has Hendrickson broken the all-time record, but he has 11 games now with at least half a sack and will look to break that record next week against the Chiefs.
Trey Hendrickson leads the Bengals organization in sacks
As Charlie Goldsmith noted in the tweet above, Hendrickson is already making a huge impact just one year into his four-year deal. He’s 27 years old and gives Cincy a premier pass-rusher for many years to come.
The reason people were somewhat against the signing at the time is that Hendrickson was a one-year wonder in New Orleans. He was insanely good in 2020 but that season came out of nowhere. Now we’re seeing it didn’t come out of nowhere and this is who Trey Hendrickson is.
Hendrickson could easily go down as one of the best Bengals’ free-agent signings of all-time and he’s proving that sentiment not even one full year into his contract with his new team. Is that a good signing or what?