Trey Hendrickson Update

[Sled21]

Meanwhile......

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/bills-second-round-pass-rusher-could-join-bengals-in-free-agency/ar-AA1KpoGO?ocid=entnewsntp&pc=U531&cvid=689c998e76274abba80dd1be5a46d6af&ei=10

Quote:Bills Will Have Free Agent Decisions To Make

Cook headed into Bills training camp a few weeks ago, practicing, then last Sunday decided he wanted to hold in. A hold-in is when a player is at practice but isn’t participating. The two-time Pro Bowler is looking for a new contract and decided he wanted to sit out.

But on Tuesday, Cook returned to practice after showing up to the Bills’ preseason game on Saturday in full uniform. Cook didn’t play in the game, but showing up was a sign of progress.

Another player who will be a free agent at season’s end is pass rusher A.J. Epenesa. The Bills drafted the 6-foot-6 defensive end in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft. In five seasons with the team, Epenesa has recorded 21.5 sacks in 75 games.

Buffalo signed veteran pass rusher Joey Bosa this offseason. Bosa is only on a one-year contract, but if he performs well, he could return to the team next year. Since it will be hard for the Bills to bring back both Bosa and Epenesa, one or both may not be on the team next year.

A.J. Epenesa Could Land With AFC Rival
If the Bills decide to part ways with one of the pass rushers, Alex Ballentine from Bleacher Report thinks Epenesa could sign with the Cincinnati Bengals this offseason.

“The Bengals aren’t going to be able to replace Trey Hendrickson in 2026 free agency. They are going to have to hope first-round pick Shemar Stewart has a good rookie season to build on and that the Myles Murphy pick finally pays off. Even then, the Bengals could be losing both Hendrickson and Joseph Ossai in free agency,” Ballentine wrote. “Targeting A.J. Epenesa would allow them to get a little younger at the position while still having veteran leadership in the room. He has had six or more sacks in each of the last three seasons and would provide the kind of reasonable floor as a starter that Sam Hubbard did.”

Cincinnati has a handful of problems of its own with pass rusher Trey Hendrickson holding out, looking for a new contract. The Bengals decided they wanted to give long-term deals to wide receivers Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase instead of paying Hendrickson.

Since this will likely be Hendrickson’s last season in Cincinnati, the team needs to find pass-rushing options next offseason, which means Epenesa could land there.

The Bills and Bengals are both Super Bowl contenders out of the AFC. It will be interesting to see if Epenesa leaves the Bills for another great team like the Bengals or heads to a team that isn’t as good but can give him a huge payday.