As we stressed constantly, the Cincinnati Bengals weren't going to trade star defensive end Trey Hendrickson during the NFL draft. Before the process, one insider speculated the Bengals could trade Hendrickson if they took Shemar Stewart in the first round.

Hendrickson had the Bengals up against it in negotiations for his contract extension before the draft. They had no answers at edge rusher for the short or long term. They regain leverage by picking Stewart. A plan for life without Hendrickson is in place between Stewart, Myles Murphy and rotational pieces behind them.

Cincinnati gave the veteran permission to seek a trade in March before it agreed to new contracts with wide receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Those ensuing financial commitments to Chase and Higgins made Hendrickson's future seem even cloudier, although there has not yet been a trade to this point of the offseason.