The Cincinnati Bengals couldn't get Trey Hendrickson extended before the NFL Draft. Now that the draft is in the books, the Bengals are on to their next order of business. It's time to extend Hendrickson,

Cincinnati gave the veteran permission to seek a trade in March before it agreed to new contracts with wide receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Those ensuing financial commitments to Chase and Higgins made Hendrickson's future seem even cloudier, although there has not yet been a trade to this point of the offseason.

Hendrickson had the Bengals up against it in negotiations for his contract extension before the draft. They had no answers at edge rusher for the short or long term. They regain leverage by picking Stewart. A plan for life without Hendrickson is in place between Stewart, Myles Murphy and rotational pieces behind them.