Bengals Signing Trey Hendrickson Odds Just Got Major Update

An expensive offseason has the Cincinnati Bengals in a difficult position. ... but maybe some money moves can change all of that.

The team paid top-dollar to keep their star wide receiver tandem of Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, resulting in a cost of over $275 million between the two extensions.

Offensively, the Bengals have the prospects to be one of the most explosive units in the league. However, that has come at the cost of their defensive star.

Defensive end Trey Hendrickson has clamored for a contract extension since the start of the offseason. He is currently slated for an over $18 million cap hit in the final year of his deal.

Initially encouraged to seek out a trade, extension talks have picked back up in recent weeks. But there has not been much progress to speak of on that front.

Many believed the Bengals would deal him at the NFL Draft if a deal is not in place by that point. That of coursr did not happen.

When does the next update come on this huge NFL story?

Cincinnati seems to be planning on a release of defensive standout Germaine Pratt ($5.3 million salary). And there are rumors about doing the same Cordell Volson ($3.7 million salary).

That would in theory free up $9 million for Hendrickson.

For the Bengals, they are hesitant to run up their budget, but they are now risking a major loss on the defensive side if they give him up. ... or otherwise play in September without him.

Al Golden takes over the Bengals defense after a brutal final campaign with Lou Anarumo. Despite the team's constant defensive woes, Hendrickson was always a lone bright spot with his performance.

And Bengals fans hope he will be that again. And soon.