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Entering the 2025 NFL draft, it was inevitable that if the Cincinnati Bengals took a pass-rusher, questions about Trey Hendrickson's future with the team would come up.
The Bengals did just that while picking Texas A&M's Shemar Stewart at No. 17 overall on Thursday night.
So, again, the question -- what does Stewart getting drafted by the Bengals mean for Hendrickson?
Bengals head coach Zac Taylor provided the answer: Not much.
"This is not a story about anybody else," Taylor said, according to Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic. "I don't think you can ever have enough defensive linemen … This speaks to how we want to play football."
RELATED: Bengals receive extremely mixed grades for Shemar Stewart pick
When it comes to Stewart, the data seems to back up Taylor's point. He's come under fire for only having 4.5 sacks over three seasons, but Texas A&M asked him to set the edge and stop the run. Sound familiar? That's Sam Hubbard's role.
In other words, the Bengals drafted a prospect who they think can set the edge and fill a specific role. His jaw-dropping measurables are something they hope to refine into an elite pass-rusher over time, too.
And when it comes to Hendrickson, the Bengals still hold all the leverage after granting his reps permission to seek a trade and otherwise likely calling his bluff about sitting out in the middle of his prime. Barring a shocking trade package, Taylor and Co. feel extremely unlikely to seriously consider offers that would hurt the team's win-now chances in 2025.
RELATED: Bengals pick Shemar Stewart's shocking numbers puts him with top names
This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: Zac Taylor halts Trey Hendrickson trade buzz after Shemar Stewart pick
Continue reading...
The Bengals did just that while picking Texas A&M's Shemar Stewart at No. 17 overall on Thursday night.
So, again, the question -- what does Stewart getting drafted by the Bengals mean for Hendrickson?
Bengals head coach Zac Taylor provided the answer: Not much.
"This is not a story about anybody else," Taylor said, according to Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic. "I don't think you can ever have enough defensive linemen … This speaks to how we want to play football."
RELATED: Bengals receive extremely mixed grades for Shemar Stewart pick
When it comes to Stewart, the data seems to back up Taylor's point. He's come under fire for only having 4.5 sacks over three seasons, but Texas A&M asked him to set the edge and stop the run. Sound familiar? That's Sam Hubbard's role.
In other words, the Bengals drafted a prospect who they think can set the edge and fill a specific role. His jaw-dropping measurables are something they hope to refine into an elite pass-rusher over time, too.
And when it comes to Hendrickson, the Bengals still hold all the leverage after granting his reps permission to seek a trade and otherwise likely calling his bluff about sitting out in the middle of his prime. Barring a shocking trade package, Taylor and Co. feel extremely unlikely to seriously consider offers that would hurt the team's win-now chances in 2025.
RELATED: Bengals pick Shemar Stewart's shocking numbers puts him with top names
This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: Zac Taylor halts Trey Hendrickson trade buzz after Shemar Stewart pick
Continue reading...
