Poll: How Will Bengals DE Trey Hendrickson’s Situation Play Out?
One of the main dominoes yet to fall amongst edge rushers this offseason is Trey Hendrickson. The 2024 sack leader remains on track for free agency next spring while the Bengals aim to keep him in the fold for years to come. 
Efforts on Hendrickson’s part to land a long-term pact and a fresh round of guarantees did not produce traction toward a new deal last offseason. A trade request was issued just before the draft as a result, but Cincinnati made it clear to him no consideration on that front would be made by the team. In the end, no holdout took place during training camp and Hendrickson played on his existing pact.
Doing so certainly upped his leverage in contract talks, as the 30-year-old posted 17.5 sacks for the second straight season. Hendrickson could aim to land a new pact near the top of the EDGE market (which has already risen on two occasions this offseason and now sits at $40MM annually). The Bengals’ offseason intentions were clear with respect to keeping him in the fold along with wideouts Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.
The latter two are indeed on the books, but their deals are worth a combined average of $61MM per year. Once Chase and Higgins inked their extensions, questions were again raised about the possibility of keeping Hendrickson in the fold beyond 2025. The four-time Pro Bowler will no doubt secure more than the $16MM he is owed for the coming campaign on his next pact, and making a lucrative commitment – having already made two at the WR spot to go along with quarterback Joe Burrow’s contract – would be challenging from a cap perspective in the Bengals’ case.
Unlike last offseason, the Bengals have been open to discussing a Hendrickson trade in recent months. Multiple offers have been rejected, a sign an extension could be within reach at some point this offseason. The negotiating process has not always gone smoothly, however, with public remarks from both team and player illustrating that point. At this point of the spring, plenty of time still remains for an agreement to be worked out.
Failing that, a trade will loom as an option for Cincinnati to consider before the 2025 deadline. A free agent departure would no doubt yield a compensatory pick, but dealing the All-Pro to an interested team ahead of the postseason could bring about a slightly better (or at least more immediate) return. Of course, if the Bengals are to return to the postseason in 2025, another year of strong play from Hendrickson – and an improved showing on defense under new DC Al Golden – will be critical. The team’s pass rush faces plenty of uncertainty elsewhere on the depth chart.
The Bengals used their top pick in this year’s draft on Shemar Stewart, banking on the Texas A&M product being able to translate his athleticism into NFL production (after he totaled just 4.5 sacks in college). Even if that proves to be the case, keeping Hendrickson in place will be crucial to Cincinnati’s efforts at finding a long-term tandem along the edge. Former first-rounder Myles Murphy – who was held without a sack in 13 games last year – is attached to his rookie contract through 2026 while Joseph Ossai re-signed on a one-year deal this spring.
Hendrickson remains a priority for the Bengals with the draft (a logical point at which a trade could have taken place) now in the books. It is still unclear, however, if a raise will be authorized by the team, one projected to have nearly $73MM in 2026 cap space (albeit with only 35 players currently under contract for next season). While there is still considerable runway for a resolution to emerge in this case, the threat of a training camp holdout looms.
How do you see this situation unfolding? Will Hendrickson play out a fifth season in Cincinnati and find himself elsewhere after that point (if not sooner)? Or will an arrangement past 2025 put an end to the questions surrounding his future? Vote in PFR’s latest poll and have your say in the comments section.
Jets Sign 15 UDFA Rookies
The Jets announced the completion of their 22-man rookie class this weekend. Joining the seven drafted players will be the following 15 undrafted free agent signings:
- Jared Bartlett, LB (Cincinnati)
- Dean Clark, CB (Fresno State)
- Jordan Clark, CB (Notre Dame)
- Brady Cook, QB (Missouri)
- Caden Davis, K (Ole Miss)
- Donovan Edwards, RB (Michigan)
- Gus Hartwig, C (Purdue)
- Dymere Miller, WR (Rutgers)
- Fatorma Mulbah, DT (West Virginia)
- Payton Page, DT (Clemson)
- Jamaal Pritchett, WR (South Alabama)
- Quentin Skinner, WR (Kansas)
- Aaron Smith, LB (South Carolina State)
- Ja’Markis Weston, LB (Florida)
- Leander Wiegand, G (GER)
The Jets spent a ton on undrafted free agent guarantees in order to get the guys they wanted this year, according to multiple reports from Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2. The largest of these deals went to Wiegand, who Wilson reports got $249K in guarantees comprised of $234K in base salary and a $15K signing bonus. Weston was next with $200K in guarantees. Skinner received $185K in guaranteed money, Edwards received $170K, (Dean) Clark received $160K ($140K in base salary, $20K in signing bonus), and Mulbah received $100K.
After spending a year at UCF in 2021, Wiegand went to Germany and played in the European League of Football. Most recently, he played for the Munich Ravens, whose offensive line coach just happens to be Browns Hall of Fame legend Joe Thomas. Wiegand caught the eyes of several scouts when he churned out 38 bench press reps of 225 pounds at his pro day, five more than the combine’s best participant. Coming from overseas, Wiegand was granted a roster exemption as a member of the International Player Pathway program.
Despite all the money getting thrown around for priority free agents, Edwards was really the only one projected to be selected late in Day 3. He didn’t take over as a starter for the Wolverines until his senior season and never broke 1,000 rushing yards. His best season came in 2022, when he was the “two” in the one-two punch with Blake Corum. He totaled 991 rushing yards and seven touchdowns that year while averaging an incredible 7.1 yards per carry. His abilities as a receiver could help him continue his role as a change-of-pace back in the NFL.
Miller arrived in Piscataway as an FCS star, having just earned first-team All-American and first-team All-CAA honors as a team captain for Monmouth with 90 catches for 1,293 yards and nine touchdowns. His final collegiate season was plagued by drops (10), but his 59 catches for 757 yards still led the Scarlet Knights in both categories.
Colts Reveal 14-Man UDFA Class
After selecting an eight-man draft class equally balanced on offense and defense, the Colts continued their balanced ways with 14 undrafted free agent signings. Here are the newest additions to the team’s 22-man rookie class:
- Devonta Davis, DT (FAU)
- Solomon DeShields, LB (Texas A&M)
- Johnathan Edwards, CB (Tulane)
- Joe Evans, DT (UTSA)
- Marshall Foerner, T (Minnesota State)
- Tyler Kahmann, WR (Emporia State)
- Desmond Little, DE (UAB)
- Maximilian Mang, TE (Syracuse)
- Coleman Owen, WR (Ohio)
- Landon Parker, WR (Troy)
- Blayne Taylor, WR (Abilene Christian)
- Ladarius Tennison, S (UCF)
- Maddux Trujillo, K (Temple)
- Trey Washington, S (Ole Miss)
Between Washington and Tennison, the Colts brought in a strong one-two punch at safety. Washington had a knack for making a play on the ball in the air for the Rebels. During his final two years in University, Washington had four picks and 10 passes defensed. Tennison was much more of a strong safety, only recording one interception and four passes defensed in his career. Though he comes out of UCF, he played for two years alongside Washington at Ole Miss after transferring from Auburn. In those two years with the Rebels, Tennison logged 94 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks.
Trujillo is the other name to note in the class. Matt Gay was mostly reliable in Indianapolis last year, but he struggled from deep, with all six of his misses coming from beyond 50 yards. The Colts released the veteran kicker a month ago, so Trujillo will now take part in kicking competition with Spencer Shrader for the placekicking job.
Shrader has a bit of a head start on Trujillo. He spent the offseason in Indianapolis last year as part of the team’s 2024 undrafted free agent class. After an injury to Gay, Shrader kicked in the team’s season opener, making three extra point attempts. He was released in mid-October and signed to the Jets’ practice squad, getting elevated for one game and converting his only attempt from 45 yards. The Chiefs then signed Shrader off New York’s taxi squad when Harrison Butker got hurt, and in two games, Shrader converted all six extra point attempts and all three field goal attempts, including a walk-off field goal to beat the Panthers in late November. He was placed on injured reserve in December and signed to return to Indianapolis in March.
Now, Shrader will have to hold off Trujillo, a former soccer player with a huge leg. While Trujillo only converted 70 of 97 field goal attempts over his time split at Austin Peay and Temple, Trujillo caught the eyes of plenty of scouts last year as he set a school record with a 64-yard kick against Utah State and then became just the third player in NCAA history with at least two 60-yard conversions two weeks later at UConn. After Gay’s struggles from deep cost him his role in Indianapolis, the Colts will surely be hoping to see Trujillo’s strong leg translate to the NFL level.
Raiders Sign LB Jaylon Smith
The Raiders’ rookie minicamp concluded today. In addition to the drafted rookies and undrafted free agent rookies who were in attendance, Las Vegas also hosted players to participate in rookie minicamp tryouts. Two non-rookies ended up walking away from the minicamp with new contracts. 
Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, one of those players was veteran linebacker Jaylon Smith. Projected to be a top five pick late in his junior season at Notre Dame, Smith’s NFL career hit its first speed bump before it even started when he suffered tears to his ACL and LCL in the Fighting Irish’s bowl game in 2016. The injury dropped him into the second round, as he was sure to miss his entire rookie season. The Cowboys were the ones who took him, in part because their team physician was the one who performed Smith’s knee surgery and was confident in his ability to recover.
Dallas wanted to be cautious in bringing him back from injury, but an injury to starter Anthony Hitchens forced him into the starting lineup to start his sophomore campaign. After Hitchens returned from injury, Smith was coming off the bench for the remainder of the year. He opened up the following season as the full-time starter, having fully recovered, and delivered 417 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, and eight sacks in the next three seasons. These efforts resulted in a Pro Bowl selection and a five-year, $64MM contract extension.
Following his extension, Smith received several criticisms in 2020 about his impact on a defense that allowed the 23rd-most total yards and the 28th-most points. After offseason wrist surgery in 2021, Smith was released by the Cowboys when he declined to waive his 2022 injury guarantee contract clause. The emergence of a rookie Micah Parsons and the transition of Keanu Neal into a linebacker made the release easier to sustain.
Smith almost immediately signed with the Packers but was released a month later after only appearing in only two games and playing only 27 snaps. Near the end of the regular season, Smith signed with the Giants’ practice squad. He stayed in New York in 2022, starting 11 games for Big Blue, but found himself to be a free agent again following the season. In 2023, he spent time on the practice squads of the Saints, Raiders, and Steelers. The only game he appeared in that year was in Las Vegas.
He’ll now return to the Raiders after not signing anywhere during the 2024 NFL season. Las Vegas improved their linebacking corps this offseason in free agency, adding Devin White and Elandon Roberts. Smith will add some veteran depth to the group at the very least.
According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2, the other non-rookie who signed after a successful minicamp tryout was safety Jonathan Sutherland. An undrafted free agent two years ago out of Penn State, Sutherland signed with the Seahawks to enter the league. He spent his rookie season on Seattle’s practice squad but was waived before the start of last year. He signed to the Giants in the preseason but was ultimately waived with an injury designation. He’ll get his chance with his third team in as many years this offseason.
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/11/25
Today’s minor NFL moves to close out the weekend:
New England Patriots
- Signed: G Mehki Butler
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: LB Nick Jackson
Washington Commanders
- Waived: T Anim Dankwah, S Trey Rucker
Jackson earns his first NFL contract after falling out of the draft and failing to secure an undrafted free agent contract in the past few weeks. Instead, he was given a rookie minicamp tryout and did enough to land a contract.
Jackson is one of an unfortunately select few players who played six years of college football without utilizing a redshirt. Entering school in 2019, he was granted the additional year that all players who were in college during the COVID-19-shortened 2020 season got. Jackson and his teammates were granted a second additional year by the NCAA on the basis that their 2022 season was shortened because of a mass shooting that killed three of their Cavalier teammates. With that time, Jackson recorded four seasons with 100+ total tackles (five with 90+), 33 total tackles for loss, and 17.0 sacks.
Rucker’s time in DC was a short one. He was part of the Commanders’ 10-man undrafted free agent class, signing his contract just three days ago. Dankwah was an UDFA for the Eagles last year but spent most of his rookie season with Washington’s practice squad.
Raiders Sign 15 Undrafted Free Agents
The Raiders have signed 15 undrafted free agents, bringing their rookie class to 26 players. Here are Las Vegas’ UDFA signings:
- Tank Booker, DT (SMU)
- Dominic Boyd, OT (Georgia Southern)
- Hudson Clark, S (Arkansas)
- Parker Clements, OT (Virginia Tech)
- Pat Conroy, TE (Old Dominion)
- Mello Dotson, CB (Kansas)
- Zakhari Franklin, WR (Illinois)
- Jarrod Hufford, C (Iowa State)
- John Humphrey, CB (USC)
- Matt Jones, LB (Baylor)
- Jah Joyner, DE (Minnesota)
- Treven Ma’ae, DT (Baylor)
- Carter Runyon, TE (Towson)
- Greedy Vance, CB (USC)
- Jailin Walker, LB (Indiana)
Dotson was a four-year starter at Kansas opposite fellow undrafted Jayhawks corner Cobee Bryant. Dotson isn’t an elite athlete but has a natural feel for shadowing receivers and excellent ball skills. He recorded 27 passes defended and nine interceptions in the last two years, including four pick-sixes that showcased his playmaking instincts on and with the ball.
Joyner recorded 12 sacks and 13 tackles for loss for Minnesota in the last two years, though 2024 was his only season as a starter. He has an enticing frame (6-foot-4, 262 pounds) with 34-inch arms that he uses in a variety of ways, most effectively as a run defender setting the edge. He’s a solid but unspectacular athlete who will need to refine his pass-rushing plan and accelerate his processing to NFL speed to earn a roster spot.
The Raiders signed him to a deal that includes $150K guaranteed, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2. Similarly, Wilson tells us that the team wanted to make sure they landed Clements’ signature and offered him $75K in guarantees to make it happen.
Walker spent three years at James Madison before transferring to Indiana in 2024. Despite facing better competition, he posted career-highs in tackles (82), tackles for loss (10), sacks (2.0), and passes defended (10). He ran a 4.40-second 40-yard dash at his pro day but weighs just 219 pounds. Walker explodes downhill against the run and as a blitzer and could push for a roster spot in Las Vegas as a special teams contributor.
Texans Sign Six Undrafted Free Agents
The Texans have signed six undrafted free agents, bringing their rookie class to 15 players. Here are Houston’s UDFA signings:
- Austin Brinkman, LS (West Virginia)
- Eli Cox, C (Kentucky)
- Alijah Huzzie, CB (North Carolina)
- Daniel Jackson, WR (Minnesota)
- K.C. Ossai, LB (Louisiana)
- Junior Tafuna, DT (Utah)
The Texans let longtime long snapper Jon Weeks walk in free agency, so Brinkman will compete with reserve/futures signing Tucker Addington for the LS roster spot this summer. His three-year contract includes $110k in guaranteed money, per KRPC2’s Aaron Wilson.
Cox was a four-year starter along Kentucky’s offensive line with experience at center (35 starts) and right guard (12 starts). He showed off excellent athleticism at the Combine, but lacks ideal length and power for the NFL. His movement skills and football I.Q. could make him a solid fit in the zone-based scheme of new Texans offensive coordinator Nick Caley. Cox will receive $250K in total guarantees on his first NFL contract, according to Wilson.
Huzzle was an early riser at the East-West Shrine Bowl, but tore his ACL during team practice, sidelining him for the rest of the pre-draft process and likely his rookie year. That tanked his draft stock, but Huzzle still has potential as a playmaker in the secondary and on special teams. He recorded 12 interceptions and 42 passes defended across 30 games at East Tennessee State before transferring to North Carolina, where he posted 18 passes defended and four picks in the last two years. Huzzle’s size (5-foot-10, 30-inch arms) will likely keep him in the slot in the NFL, though he has experience on the outside as well. He also brings upside as a punt returner.
Ossai is the younger brother of Bengals edge rusher Joseph Ossai. His contract with the Texans includes $175k in guarantees ($15K signing bonus and $160k guaranteed salary), per Wilson.
Tafuna is a 6-foot-4, 308-pound defensive tackle who received some early praise from Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans at rookie minicamp (via KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson). He wasn’t especially productive at Utah, recording only 15 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks in 45 career games (45 starts), but still earned second-team All-Pac 12 honors in 2022 and 2023 with an All-Big 12 honorable mention in 2024. Tafuna is a strong, agile defensive lineman who can eat blocks in the trenches, even if he doesn’t post eye-popping statistics. He received $200k in total guarantees from the Texans, according to Wilson.
Bears Tried To Trade Up For TreVeyon Henderson
The Bears entered the 2025 NFL Draft looking to add to their running back room after the success of new head coach Ben Johnson with Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery in Detroit.
Ashton Jeanty was long thought to be Chicago’s desired prospect in the first round. The team even explored trading up from the No. 10 pick to draft him; when that didn’t work out, they went with Colston Loveland. Their selection quieted trade action in the first round, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, as multiple teams were targeting the Michigan tight end in the teens.
The Bears’ search for a running back then moved on to TreVeyon Henderson, who they coveted for his upside on passing downs as a blocker and a receiver, per ESPN’s Courtney Cronin. Henderson was expected to go early in the second round, so Chicago tried to trade up from the 39th overall pick to snag the former Buckeye, potentially with the Titans to No. 35 (via Fowler). Those efforts fell through, and the Patriots took Henderson one pick before the Bears were on the clock.
Chicago then waited until their last selection (Round 7, No. 233) to draft a running back, taking Kyle Monangai out of Rutgers. He has some of the pass-protection chops the Bears were looking for and will have a chance to carve out a third-down role as a rookie.
Henderson, meanwhile, will immediately push for touches in the Patriots’ backfield as a contributor in the passing game. His ball security could even help him take over a lead role if Rhamondre Stevenson‘s fumbling woes continue into the 2025 season.
Bengals Sign 13 Undrafted Free Agents
The Bengals announced 13 undrafted free agent signings to bring their rookie class to 19. Here are Cincinnati’s 2025 UDFAs:
- Dante Barnett, DT (Dickinson College)
- Quali Conley, RB (Arizona)
- Howard Cross III, DT (Notre Dame)
- Caleb Etienne, OT (BYU)
- Eric Gregory, DT (Arkansas)
- Bralyn Lux, CB (Texas Tech)
- Jamoi Mayes, WR (Cincinnati)
- Seth McLaughlin, C (Ohio State)
- Jordan Moore, WR (Duke)
- Rashod Owens, WR (Oklahoma State)
- Kole Taylor, TE (West Virginia)
- Payton Thorne, QB (Auburn)
- William Wagner, LS (Michigan)
The Bengals signed Barnett through the NFL’s International Player Pathway program. Born in Birmingham, England, he spent three years at the NFL Academy in Leicester before a year of Division III ball at Dickinson College. Barnett will need to figure out a positional fit in Cincinnati; at 6-foot-1 and 275 pounds, he’s too small for the interior but lacks the get-off of an edge rusher.
Cross was a consistent presence on Notre Dame’s defensive line over the past four years, including second-team All-American nods in the last two under new Bengals defensive coordinator Al Golden. He has an explosive first step but struggles to control encounters due to his 6-foot-1, 285-pound frame and lack of elite strength to compensate. Cross’ size may limit him in the pros, but his intangibles – handed down from his father and former Giants tight end Howard Cross – will endear him to coaches and give him a chance at a roster spot.
Etienne is a 6-foot-6, 329-pound tackle who brings a promising athletic profile to the NFL. He struggled on the right side of BYU’s offensive line in 2023 but thrived on the blindside in 2024 and earned first-team All-Big 12 honors. He has excellent length with 36-inch arms, but he has to find more ways to maximize his physical gifts with better technique and footwork.
McLaughlin spent four years at Alabama before transferring to Ohio State in 2024. As a Buckeye, he earned first-team All-Big Ten honors and won the Rimington Trophy, given out annually to the best center in college football. That was despite missing the end of the season due to a torn Achilles, which required surgery and sidelined him throughout the pre-draft process. He fell out of the draft as a result, he’s an experienced, technically sound center with a reputation as a smart, dedicated worker on and off the field. With a smooth recovery, he could turn into one of the steals of the 2025 class with the potential to succeed Ted Karras as the Bengals’ starting center.
Steelers, RB Trey Sermon Agree To Deal
The Steelers have lined up a backfield addition deep into free agency. Pittsburgh has agreed to a one-year deal with Trey Sermon, Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz reports. 
A third-round pick of the 49ers in 2021, Sermon only lasted one season in San Francisco. He did not survive roster cuts in advance of his second NFL campaign, with the 49ers placing him on waivers. The Eagles claimed him, although that did not yield a workload of note. Sermon handled a total of just 12 snaps in Philadelphia, and he found himself on the move the following year.
Shortly after being released in the summer of 2023, Sermon inked a practice squad deal with the Colts. His debut Indianapolis campaign resulted in 160 scoreless rushing yards, but the free agent departure of Zack Moss opened the door for an increased workload. At one point, Sermon seemed to be in position to handle RB2 duties behind Jonathan Taylor. In the end, though, the Ohio State product only saw a marginal uptick in carries (56 compared to 35).
As a result, this Steelers pact will no doubt be a small commitment on Pittsburgh’s part. The Steelers leaned heavily on former first-rounder Najee Harris over the past four seasons. As many expected, Harris departed in free agency this spring, leaving Jaylen Warren atop the depth chart. The latter is attached to a second-round RFA tender for 2025, and he will look to play his way into a long-term pact with Pittsburgh or another team next offseason.
The Steelers used a third-round pick (their second selection of the draft) on running back Kaleb Johnson. The Iowa product enjoyed a highly successful college career and he is in line to compete for a notable role alongside Warren and free agent signing Kenneth Gainwell as a rookie. Sermon, 26, could earn a place as the team’s No. 3 or 4 option in the backfield, although he does not have considerable experience on special teams (something which would likely be necessary for someone in that role to earn a roster spot).
The Steelers entered Sunday with more than $34MM in cap space, so today’s deal will not alter their other roster-building plans. Sermon will turn his attention to competing for a depth gig on his latest team during the summer.