The Cincinnati Bengals have one of the best quarterbacks in football.
When a team is in that type of position, it has to do everything in its power to put him in a position to succeed.
However, they seem set on doing the opposite for Joe Burrow.
The Bengals have one of the best pass rushers in the game, yet they refuse to pay him what he’s worth.
With that in mind, former NFL quarterback Dan Orlovsky called them out and made a case for them to pay Trey Hendrickson.
“The Bengals haven’t drafted anybody who recorded 10+ sacks for them since Sam Hubbard in 2018 (who just retired). If you can’t develop, you have to pay,” Orlovsky wrote on X.
The @Bengals haven’t DRAFTED anybody who recorded 10+ sacks for them since Sam Hubbard in 2018 (who just retired). If you can’t develop, you have to pay.
— Dan Orlovsky (@danorlovsky7) August 18, 2025
The Bengals missed the playoffs last season, mostly because of their questionable defense.
They brought back head coach Zac Taylor, and though they fired defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, they didn’t go to the lengths they needed to address their defensive shortcomings.
As things stand, Hendrickson isn’t only their best defensive player, he might be their only good defensive player.
The Bengals reportedly want to get at least one first-round pick and a young player in any trade.
That shows they’re well aware of his value, they just don’t want to pay him what he wants in a contract extension.
The organization has done a lot to infuriate its best players in the past, and it’s not a surprise to see them struggling to get back to the Super Bowl.
For as long as they continue to operate this way, it’s hard to believe any big-name free agent will want to join them, not even with Burrow in town.
