As soon as the Bengals used their 17th overall pick to draft Texas defensive end Shemar Stewart, everyone started to ponder—is this the beginning of the end of Trey Hendrickson in Cincinnati? Given that the All-Pro edge rusher is still in a contract impasse with the Bengals, was Stewart’s signing a message that Hendrickson will be moved on soon? Let’s not forget the Bengals just gave a combined $276M contract extensions to Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. They have already paid record-breaking contracts. So, those narratives were indeed compelling. However, it seems the Bengals aren’t done with their NFL sack leader just yet. Cincinnati still has a surprise in store.

Once, Stewart was announced as a Bengal, Zac Taylor wanted to clarify one thing. “This is not a story about anybody else,” referring to all the narratives surrounding Hendrickson’s future. So, Taylor has already cleared that the Bengals drafting Stewart doesn’t mean they are done with Hendrickson. Still, there were a lot of questions surrounding the Bengals’ star edge rusher’s contract. That’s why The Athletic’s Dianna Russini wanted to clear the air on what’s going on in the Jungle.

After some digging, she said on her Scoop City podcast, “I’m still getting really good vibes coming out of Cincy that they’re going to try to get a deal done with Trey.” It’s not just good vibes. The Bengals are working tirelessly behind the scenes to get their sack leader extended. “They seem to be trying to move money and get creative with finding ways to get Trey the money,” Russini added. To be honest, the Bengals are indeed planning to move on certain players to make space for Hendrickson’s mammoth extension.

There have been talks surrounding the release of linebacker Germaine Pratt and guard Cordell Volson. Given both are on $5.3M and $3.7M salary packages, respectively, the Bengals, in theory, could save $9M from them. Who knows, maybe that could help them extend Hendrickson’s future in Cincy. Trey’s 35 sacks since 2023 remain the most by anyone within the same period. So, the Bengals can’t just allow their standout defender to walk out while relying on a rookie.

Is Shemar Stewart going to replace Trey Hendrickson?

Considering how the Bengals’ defense cost them a place in the playoffs, they were always going to target top defensive prospects in the draft. And the one they took at 17th overall was touted as one of the top pass-rushing prospects ahead of the draft. 6-foot-5, 267-pound monster Stewart ran a sensational 4.59-second 40-yard dash at the combine. With an insane 40-inch vertical leap, the Bengals just couldn’t ignore Stewart, even though his sacks linger at the bottom. In his three seasons with Texas A&M, Stewart only logged 4.5 sacks. But his enormous ceiling to improve was too hard for the Bengals to pass on him.

He most probably made them remember Ravens LB Odafe Oweh. Oweh also had just 7 sacks in three years at Penn State. But once he joined the Ravens, those numbers took a massive leap. The 6-foot-5, 255-pounder is coming off a 10-sack season in Baltimore. Given that Stewart is going to line up beside Hendrickson for at least one year. He could also end up having a similar development to Oweh’s in Baltimore. Stewart himself is pretty excited to link up with the NFL sack leader.

“I’m going to come in there and work my tail off. Me and Trey Hendrickson. He’s going to become my best buddy because I’m going to be under his tail,” Stewart said. The 21-year-old already has the physical traits. All he needs now is someone like Hendrickson, who is a menace from the line of scrimmage by his side. Both of them can strike instant fear in the opposition’s O-line. So, considering the role Hendrickson could play in the development of Stewart. The Bengals will probably find some way to keep him in the Jungle. If not, it’s going to be the same old story of the Bengals being a Tiger in their offense and prey in their defense.